Statement by Ireland at the 1486th Special Meeting of the Permanent Council
Statement by Ireland at the 1486th Special Meeting of the Permanent Council on 'The Russian Federation's ongoing aggression against Ukraine'
Madam Chair,
Ireland fully aligns with the statement made by the EU. I would also like to add some comments in our national capacity.
This month marks 49 years since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act.
In signing the Helsinki Accords, all participating States accepted that peace and security can only be achieved through effective multilateralism and respect for human rights and the rule of law.
This month also marks Ukraine’s Independence Day.
This day has a new resonance across our region because, in the words of Ireland’s Taoiseach Simon Harris, ‘the people of Ukraine are not only fighting for their freedom but are also defending our shared values as Europeans.’
By launching a full-scale war against Ukraine the Russian Federation has once again trampled upon the principles set out in the Helsinki Final Act, and, tragically, it is the people of Ukraine who continue to bear the brunt.
A growing body of evidence of Russia’s crimes in Ukraine, collected by multiple international mechanisms including ODIHR’s Ukraine Monitoring Initiative and the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, as well as through the critical work of civil society, points to the dreadful human impact of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Ireland is committed to ensuring accountability for Russia’s actions in Ukraine, including large-scale assaults on civilians that have resulted in an appalling loss of civilian lives, the widespread use of torture and ill-treatment, the deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children and the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of Ukrainian citizens.
Let me recall that amongst those who have been arbitrarily detained are three OSCE staff, Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov. Ireland reiterates its calls for an immediate end to their unjust and illegal detention.
Madam Chair,
The Russian Federation alone is responsible for launching a full-scale war against Ukraine and the Russian Federation alone bears full responsibility for the ensuing devastation.
Ireland renews its call on the Russian Federation to uphold its international obligations including those in the Helsinki Final Act.
Thank you, Madam Chair.