The United Nations General Assembly convenes an emergency special session on Ukraine
UN Photo/Evan Schneider Un General Assembly convenes emergency special session on Ukraine.
At the council's request, the 193 Member States of the United Nations will begin today the 11th emergency special session in their history on Ukraine.
In his opening remarks, Shaheed, President of the 11th Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly, reiterated that Russia's military offensive violated ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty and was inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations. He reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire, for the parties to exercise maximum restraint and for a full resumption of diplomacy and dialogue.
He noted that the convening of the 11th emergency special session of the General Assembly was rooted in the Charter and the mandate of General Assembly resolution 377 A (V), entitled "Uniting for Peace", and that "this meeting has brought new hope to ensure that the leadership of the United Nations lives up to the expectations of the people we serve on issues related to peace and security."" ”
UN Photo/Evan Schneider President Shaheed addresses Member States at the emergency special session of the General Assembly on Ukraine.
Shahid said that in April 1946, the League of Nations disbanded, ending the 26-year-old organization and ultimately proving that the League of Nations could not prevent the outbreak of the most destructive war in human history.
"The League of Nations' failure to provide a mechanism to enforce international collective security exposes its most fatal flaw," he said. ”
In his final eulogy to the League of Nations, Right Honorable Viscount Robert Cecil, one of the founders of the League of Nations, said: "The League of Nations is dead. Long live the United Nations".
Shahid said: "Today is the 76th year of the United Nations. Let us remind ourselves that we established the United Nations to maintain international peace and security and, to that end, to take effective collective measures to prevent and eliminate threats to peace and to adjust or resolve international disputes or situations in a peaceful manner and in accordance with the principles of justice and international law. ”
"Through yesterday's meeting of the Council, a rare window of opportunity for dialogue has opened. Let us take this opportunity to meaningfully and expeditiously ease the situation (in Ukraine). ”
Voting is expected on Wednesday
Due to the large number of Requests by States to address the emergency special session, the meeting is expected to last until this Wednesday. States Members of the United Nations will vote on a draft resolution after representatives have made statements.
Guterres: The fighting must stop
In his speech, Secretary-General António Guterres said the fighting in Ukraine must stop.
"Across Ukraine, fighting is raging in the air, on land and at sea," he said. It must now be stopped. ”
He said Russian missiles and aerial bombardments attacked Ukrainian cities day and night. The capital Kiev is surrounded.
Kiev's 3 million residents have been forced to seek safety in their homes, in temporary bomb shelters and in the city's subways.
About 500,000 Ukrainians have fled the country's border.
"This escalating violence — which has led to the deaths of civilians, including children — is totally unacceptable," he said. Enough is enough. ”
"Soldiers need to withdraw to their barracks, leaders need to move toward peace, civilians must be protected, and international humanitarian law and human rights law must be upheld," Guterres stressed. Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders must be respected in accordance with General Assembly resolutions. ”
UN Photo Evan Schneider UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses Member States at the emergency special session of the General Assembly on Ukraine.
"A nuclear conflict is simply unimaginable"
"We are facing a tragedy in Ukraine, but also a major regional crisis that could have a catastrophic impact on all of us," Guterres said. ”
"Yesterday, Russia's nuclear forces were on high alert," he said. It's a chilling development. The mere thought of a nuclear conflict is simply unthinkable. Nothing can justify the use of nuclear weapons.
Europe's worst humanitarian and refugee crisis in decades
Guterres said the current situation could easily turn into europe's worst humanitarian and refugee crisis in decades, with the number of refugees and internally displaced persons increasing every minute.
"In the coming days and weeks, Ukraine's neighbors will need our full support," he said. The United Nations will continue to assist in those efforts. ”
On Saturday, Guterres spoke with Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and assured him that the United Nations would not abandon the Ukrainian people and expressed its determination to strengthen humanitarian assistance.
Prior to last week's events, the United Nations had provided humanitarian assistance to some 3 million people on both sides of Ukraine's eastern line of contact.
The United Nations is now working around the clock to assess humanitarian needs and expand life-saving support to more people in desperate need of protection and shelter.
The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund has allocated $20 million to Ukraine. The Secretary-General also appointed Amin Ahwad as United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine. Tomorrow, the United Nations will launch two emergency donor appeals for Ukraine and the region.
"We need peace now"
Guterres said: "There are gunfire now, but the road to dialogue must always be clear. It is never too late to negotiate in good faith and resolve all issues peacefully. I hope that the direct talks now between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations will not only produce the result of an immediate cessation of fighting, but also a path to a diplomatic solution. ”
"The United Nations looks forward to victory over the scourge of war," he said. In cities around the world, people are taking to the streets demanding an end to the war. The Ukrainian people want and need peace. I believe the same is true of the Russian people. We need peace now. ”
All parties express their position
Sergei Kislitzya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, said: "This is the first time since the birth of the United Nations that there has been an all-out war in the heart of Europe. Everyone in the world knows that Russia, Russia alone, started this invasion, and now Belarus has facilitated it. This war was not provoked. It was chosen by the people who are now sitting in the bunker. We know the fate of the man who sat in the Berlin bunker in May 1945. ”
Nebenja, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, said: "The occupation of Ukraine is not in our plans. The purpose of this special operation is to protect people who have been abused and genocided by the Kiev regime for eight years. To this end, it is necessary to demilitarize and de-Nazify Ukraine. We will also work to bring to justice those who have committed countless bloody crimes against civilians, including Russian citizens. ”
Orof Skog, head of the European Union mission to the United Nations, said: "In the past, the international community has repeatedly been blind or too slow in the face of ongoing tragedies. Entire generations in many parts of the world have paid and continue to pay the price for inaction. We cannot make the same mistake again: we must act. ”
Zhang Jun, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said: "The Cold War has long ended, and the Cold War mentality based on group confrontation should be abandoned, and provoking a new Cold War is even more harmful and not beneficial." The security of one country cannot be at the expense of the security of other countries, and regional security cannot be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs. China supports the resumption of dialogue between the EU, NATO and Russia, upholds the concept of indivisibility of security, properly addresses the legitimate security demands of all parties, including Russia, and seeks to build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism to achieve long-term peace and stability on the European continent. ”
Relive the Charter of the United Nations
In 1945, near the end of World War II, representatives of 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to draft and sign the Charter of the United Nations, thus establishing a new international organization, the United Nations, which brought rules and hope to a world in ruins. Today, let us revisit the principles and values of this wartime Guide, and the inspiration it brings in the crises of today's world.
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