Statement by Ireland at the Annual Security Review Conference
Ireland aligns with the EU statement and would like to make the following remarks in a national capacity.
More than two years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues to face immense suffering and devastation due to Russia’s brutal and unprovoked aggression. Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is under relentless attack and untold damage is being done to the environment. Most concerning of all, Ukraine’s population is suffering appalling attacks including killing, maiming, torture, rape, arbitrary imprisonment and forced transfer to Russia.
Amongst those arbitrarily imprisoned in Ukraine are three OSCE staff from the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Dmytro Shabanov, Maksym Petrov and Vadym Golda. It is unconscionable that they have been unjustly detained for more than two years. Ireland renews our calls for their immediate and unconditional release.
The appalling security vista we see today has not been caused by a dearth of security structures in Europe or by a deficiency in the OSCE, UN or any other multilateral organisation. It has been caused by Russia’s unilateral decision to launch an unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine in blatant contravention of OSCE principles and commitments and the UN Charter.
All too often, we have heard the hackneyed excuses of the aggressor, blaming victims and the OSCE. Through a campaign of disinformation internally and externally, Russia is attempting to manipulate the globally accepted security order to suit its own ends.
We all know that OSCE principles and commitments do not need to be reinvented, OSCE security structures do not need to be rebuilt and OSCE human rights mechanisms are not outdated. What is needed is for Russia to muster the political will to turn away from the reckless path it has chosen and instead return to respect for OSCE principles and commitments and International law.
The recent “Summit on Peace in Ukraine” in Switzerland was an important first step for the global community to build consensus around the principles underlying a future peace in Ukraine key amongst them that Ukraine’s freedom and territorial integrity will not be compromised.
At the same time, Russia must be held to account for all of its actions in Ukraine. Ireland fully supports the investigations of the ICC Prosecutor in Ukraine and the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute war crimes as any peace solution must include accountability.
Madame Chair, let me conclude by reaffirming Ireland’s unwavering support for Ukraine. Together with our EU partners, Ireland will continue to support Ukraine’s immediate needs as well as to assist with recovery and reconstruction. We will also continue to strongly support Ukraine to advance upon its chosen path to EU membership.