Statement delivered by H.E. Hugh Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Guyana during the Security Council Briefing on the 'Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine'
Thank you, President,
Please accept my commendations for Slovenia’s efficient handling of the Council’s business this month.
I also thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his sobering briefing on the ongoing war in Ukraine.
President,
Next month will mark seventy-nine years since the entry into force of the United Nations Charter. A Charter that binds “We the peoples of the United Nations” to the collective pursuit of peace, the promotion of human rights, and the advancement of social and economic progress.
In choosing to join the United Nations and accepting the obligations of its Charter, we each agree to be bound by all its provisions, including the prohibition on the use of force. Enshrined in Article 2(4), this prohibition is one of the Charter’s most explicit provisions and the foremost foundational principle of international law. It demands that every Member State of this Organization, “refrain in its international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of [another] state”.
Seventy-nine years later, we find ourselves confronted with conflicts and crises that challenge the most basic tenets of the Charter and the realization of our collective desire for peace.
Most notable is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has already claimed the lives of over 11,000 civilians.
Guyana deplores the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state and joins the international community in calling for full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
We reiterate that the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, the prohibition on the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of all disputes must be adhered to by all Member States of the United Nations.
The war in Ukraine continues to cause widespread suffering and destruction and is characterized by an almost wanton disregard for international law, including international humanitarian law. It has also had a detrimental impact on nuclear safety, energy security, the environment, and global food security. In both Ukraine and Russia, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict with many having paid the ultimate price. The resulting humanitarian situation has reached crisis level with 40% of Ukraine’s population now in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and over 10 million displaced. Any further escalation of the conflict will no doubt have even more dire consequences for both countries, the wider region, and the world.
Guyana reiterates its call for the parties to the conflict to comply fully with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We also call on the Russian Federation to allow full, unhindered humanitarian access to the people in need in the temporarily occupied territories.
President,
In seeking a path to lasting peace, Guyana would like to underscore the following three points:
First, we wish to emphasize that this conflict cannot be solved through military means. Only a serious political and diplomatic process can pave the path to peace. Guyana commends the efforts of those who have committed to finding pathways to peacefully end the war and stresses the need for this to be a collective endeavour. We, therefore, encourage further intensification of diplomatic dialogue with the conflict parties toward the de-escalation of hostilities and in the pursuit of sustainable peace.
Second, respect for the provisions of the UN Charter and international law must be upheld. The acquisition of territory by force must not be condoned in any way, either individually or collectively. Every state must be able to pursue its national development without the unnecessary and expensive burden of having to arm itself in defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
My third and final point is that for the bells of peace to ring, the drums of war must be silenced. In this respect, Guyana reiterates its call for the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and end its invasion of Ukraine. This can be the first step toward finding lasting and sustainable peace.
President, Excellencies,
As we prepare to mark the 79th Anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter on 24th October, let us use the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to its purposes, principles, and to international law. Let us also reaffirm the primacy of international cooperation and diplomacy in preventing conflicts and settling disputes. We the peoples deserve no less.
I Thank You!
