Pro-Russian militant insurgency in eastern Ukraine was the cause, not the effect of human rights violations and breakdown of order, notes Lithuanian representative
24 June, New York. At the United Nations Security Council meeting on political and human rights situation in Ukraine Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaitė, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN, expressed support for the peace plan, proposed by Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, as well as other steps undertaken by the Government of Ukraine to implement the 17 April Geneva Statement and to ensure the rights of ethnic minorities.
Commending Ukraine’s efforts, Lithuania’s representative reiterated call on Russia to disassociate itself from the militant separatism in eastern Ukraine and to call on the insurgents to lay down the arms. “Russia should ensure proper control of its borders with Ukraine and put an end to the flow into eastern Ukraine of Russian-made weaponry as well as Russian mercenaries and foreign fighters” – further stated Lithuanian Ambassador.
Talking on the human rights situation in Ukraine, Lithuania’s representative noted that “the third UN human rights monitoring mission report is yet another proof that pro-Russian militant insurgency was the cause, and not the effect of serious human rights violations and the breakdown of law and order in the eastern regions of Ukraine. Just as Russia’s occupation of Crimea was the cause, and not the effect of serious human and minority rights violations in that region”. She expressed concern over reports on abductions, detentions, killings, torture and harassment of civilians by separatists as well as over increased criminality in the areas held by the separatists.
Ambassador Murmokaitė welcomed the invitation by the Ukrainian government to extend the UN Human Rights monitoring mission for three more months as impartial reporting on human rights violations and developments on the ground was key to avoiding manipulation of facts.
In her statement Lithuanian ambassador reiterated Lithuania’s full support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity as well as condemnation of the occupation of Crimea.
During the meeting the UN Security Council was briefed by Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonović and Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun on the latest political and human rights situation in Ukraine. The UN officials noted that while there had been several steps recently to help de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, including a ceasefire and the start of peace talks, the situation on the ground remains deeply worrying. This was the second UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine held in the month of June.
Photo: Paulo Filgueiras.
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