S/PV.8461 Ukraine 12/02/2019
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United Nations S/ PV.8461 Security Council Provisional Seventy-fourth year 8461st meeting Tuesday, 12 February 2019, 3 p.m. New York President: Mr. Esono Mbengono ............................ (Equatorial Guinea) Members: Belgium ....................................... Mrs. Van Vlierberge China ......................................... Mr. Wu Haitao Côte d’Ivoire ................................... Mr. Ipo Dominican Republic .............................. Ms. Morrison González France ........................................ Mr. Delattre Germany ...................................... Mr. Heusgen Indonesia. Mr. Djani Kuwait ........................................ Mr. Alotaibi Peru .......................................... Mr. Duclos Poland ........................................ Ms. Wronecka Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Nebenzia South Africa ................................... Mr. Matjila United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Mr. Allen United States of America .......................... Mr. Cohen Agenda Letter dated 13 April 2014 from the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/264) . This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-0506 ([email protected]). Corrected records will be reissued electronically on the Official Document System of the United Nations (http://documents.un.org). 19-03717 (E) *1903717* S/PV.8461 Ukraine 12/02/2019 The meeting was called to order at 3.05 p.m. efforts within the Minsk framework continue, the Minsk provisions, regrettably, remain largely unimplemented, Adoption of the agenda including its key security and political aspects. Negotiations appear to have lost momentum, with the The agenda was adopted. main stakeholders either unable and/or unwilling to reach an agreement on the key steps forward, or being Letter dated 13 April 2014 from the Permanent distracted from focusing on the implementation of Representative of the Russian Federation to the agreed steps. United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2014/264) I would like to recall that detailed discussions on the implementation of the provisions of the Minsk The President (spoke in Spanish): In accordance agreements have been taking place in separate forums, with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of in which the United Nations is not a participant. The procedure, I invite the representative of Ukraine to Secretary-General has been consistent in stressing participate in this meeting. the United Nations strong support for the lead role In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s of the Normandy Four, the Trilateral Contact Group, provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following the Organization for Security and Cooperation in briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Miroslav Europe (OSCE) and other key actors in seeking a Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Central Asia and the Americas, Department of The Secretary-General has also repeatedly called for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Department revitalizing efforts in these negotiation formats and of Peace Operations; Ms. Ursula Mueller, Assistant bilateral channels. Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs As consistently highlighted by incidents over and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator; His the past five years, the conflict in eastern Ukraine Excellency Mr. Ertuğrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the is neither dormant nor frozen. It is a conflict in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe heart of Europe that continues to claim victims. With Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine; and His the five recommitments to the ceasefire by the main Excellency Mr. Martin Sajdik, Special Representative stakeholders in the Trilateral Contact Group format of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in last year, there has been a total of over a dozen such Europe Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the ceasefire recommitments since the start of the conflict. Trilateral Contact Group. Each one was, regrettably, short-lived. Mr. Apakan and Mr. Sajdik are joining the meeting As reported by the OSCE, military advance via video-teleconference from Minsk. positions on both sides of the contact line are coming The Security Council will now begin its closer to each other in the so called grey areas, while consideration of the item on its agenda. the use of heavy weapons and their deployment in the proximity of the contact line are a reality. This week, I give the floor to Mr. Jenča. another round of discussions within the Trilateral Mr. Jenča: In resolution 2202 (2015), which Contact Group will be taking place in Minsk. It is the was unanimously adopted on 17 February 2015, the United Nations sincere hope and expectation that the Security Council endorsed the package of measures relevant parties will reach tangible outcomes at these for the implementation of the Minsk agreements and meetings and implement decisions in good faith and called on all parties to fully implement the measures, without delay. including a much-needed comprehensive and lasting While there has been an overall reduction in ceasefire. In presidential statement S/PRST/2018/12, of violence since 2014, including in the number of civilian 6 June 2018, the Council again unanimously reaffirmed deaths, casualties and destruction continue on an the centrality of the Minsk agreements. almost weekly basis. At the same time, an estimated Four years after their adoption, the Minsk 1.5 million people remain internally displaced. The agreements remain the only agreed framework for a periodic escalations remind us of the unstable reality negotiated peace in eastern Ukraine. While diplomatic along the contact line, which continues to adversely 2/28 19-03717 12/02/2019 Ukraine S/PV.8461 impact the already dire socioeconomic situation and to prevent the emergence of new crises and to resolve the crumbling infrastructure in the conflict-affected existing conflicts in the region. Last month, in his New area. There is an urgent need to agree on additional Year message to the General Assembly, the Secretary- measures that would make the ceasefire sustainable General again singled out the conflict in Ukraine as and irreversible. The priority of the parties should one of the key challenges that continues to confront the be, without delay, to withdraw heavy weapons from international community. Member States need to work populated areas, disengage forces and protect critical together in the interest of regional stability. civilian infrastructure. The United Nations underlines the need to fully The United Nations remains fully committed to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of playing its role in continuing to provide humanitarian Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, assistance, human rights monitoring and development in accordance with relevant General Assembly and support. The scale and urgency of needs arising from the Security Council resolutions. Once again, we urge all conflict remain immense. Over half a million people live parties to demonstrate the necessary political will to within five kilometres of the contact line and they are the ensure the earliest possible end to the conflict and help most exposed to periodic shelling, gunfire, landmines bring about peace and stability in all of Ukraine. and unexploded ordnance. The area around the contact line remains among the most mine-contaminated The President (spoke in Spanish): I thank Mr. Jenča areas in the world. As called for by the Council in its for his briefing. presidential statement S/PRST/2018/12, of 6 June 2018, I now give the floor to Ms. Mueller. it is essential that the international community step up efforts to help meet the humanitarian needs on the Ms. Mueller: I thank you, Sir, for the opportunity ground as part of the humanitarian response plan for to brief the Security Council on the humanitarian Ukraine. The United Nations will continue to spare situation in eastern Ukraine. no effort to fulfil its responsibilities in the delivery of Civilians continue to pay the highest price. humanitarian assistance and the monitoring of human More than 3,300 civilians have been killed and up to rights. However, I wish to underline that it is also 9,000 injured since the conflict began in 2014. Some essential that the United Nations humanitarian efforts 1.5 million people have been internally displaced. on the ground not be politicized or instrumentalized by The humanitarian consequences are severe. In 2019, any side. 3.5 million people — many of whom are elderly, women This year, the conflict in eastern Ukraine will enter and children — will need humanitarian assistance and its sixth year There should be no illusions — while protection service. For most of them, the impact of the negotiations may have become protracted, this conflict conflict has deepened. They have lost their livelihoods remains today an active threat to international peace and their limited resources have been exhausted