23 February 2023
Mr. President of the General Assembly,
Excellences,
One year ago, on this day, the world was holding its breath, waiting to see what choice Russia’s President would make.
On February 24th we learned that he made his choice.
This war is one for which there was no other reason than this choice by the Russian President. We should do well to remember that.
Ukraine did not attack Russia, Ukraine did never threaten Russia.
That claim is just as ludicrous today, when the whole world has seen the weakness of the Russian Army, as it was back in February 23rd 2022 when most of the world expected the invasion to succeed in a matter of days.
It was an unprovoked, illegal, criminal invasion of a country. It was above all, an act of aggression that clearly violated the UN Charter and international law. One that was condemned in no uncertain terms and in landslide votes through a number of resolutions by this Assembly.
The International Court of Justice has also been very clear in its order of March 16, 2022, stating that the Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations on the territory of Ukraine, and it must also ensure that other forces under its control or supported by Moscow should not continue the military operation.
It is not just our evaluation of the military capabilities of the Russian Army that has changed over the past year. The brutality of this force has become apparent to all. The war crimes it has committed in Ukraine in this past year, indiscriminate bombing of entire cities and towns, the rapes, the executions, the massive enrollment of convicts and mercenaries, are perhaps the best indictment of the true nature of Russia’s war.
Just as, the truly heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people, has rendered nil any arguments and excuses Russia tried to present to the world in a vain attempt to gain legitimacy for its war of choice.
This war has had dramatic consequences for the entire world. But I submit to all in this Assembly, that what we have seen until now is as nothing compared to what we would see if Russia is allowed to prevail in this conflict.
Would anyone here, any of our countries here, be safer if the UN Charter and international law are allowed to be trampled in the manner Russia has done?
I believe not. I believe that a world where might makes right, where countries can suddenly decide to attack their neighbors and annex parts of their territory is a world that would not benefit anyone of us. Or our people.
It would practically mean to go back to the logic of the 1930s.
That is why Albania fully supports the resolution “UN Charter principles underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”. That is why we believe that this Assembly must vote in support of this resolution and make clear is support for a just peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter which should guarantee the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters.
In the same vein, we oppose the hostile amendments presented by Belarus.
They represent no effort to contribute to peace but an attempt to shield the aggressor.
They must be rejected and we call on all UN members to vote NO.
Albania requests a recorded vote on the two amendments proposed by Belarus, A slash, ES-11 slash L.8, and A slash ES-11 slash L. 9
Thank you!