Publisher’s note:
Ukraine: Not since the founding of the United Nations in 1945 has there been such a moment as today – when 193 member states will, or ought, re-energize Hope while under threat of nuclear annihilation.
New York, 28 February 2022
Mr. President,
[My Delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the European Union.] And in my national capacity, I would like to make the following remark.
Excellences,
We have gathered today in an emergency session, because the UN Security Council once again failed us in acting as a guardian of peace and security. So now it is up to us, the General Assembly, where we all have equal rights to vote, to stand up and make it certain that the UN delivers on the purpose it was created for.
The use of armed force by a UN member state against sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another member state violates Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, and constitutes an act of aggression, as defined by the Resolution 3314 of this very body, adopted by consensus. What we see in Ukraine is an act of aggression on the part of Russia, and we condemn it!
Last week, I spoke from this very rostrum about Russia’s pattern of behavior against its neighbors. Russia’s full-scale military aggression against my country should have served as a wake-up call for all. But, alas, it has not been possible to prevent the similar scenario unfolding few years after in Ukraine.
Not to repeat myself, let me just say that we, in Georgia, do know what the toll of war is. We do know about its disastrous consequences, and that it is people, innocent civilians, women and children, who pay the highest price. It is devastating not only for those who live through it but passes down to generations.
Let me be clear, core principles enshrined in the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris for new Europe and the commitments taken under the Budapest Memorandum are non-negotiable nor subject to revision by any country no matter how large and powerful it may be. Territorial acquisition through use of force, or a threat to do so is illegal and impermissible.
Georgia calls on the Russian Federation to immediately cease its military activities and withdraw all its forces and armaments from Ukraine. Allow immediate access to all international humanitarian and human rights mechanisms wherever is needed on the entire territory of Ukraine. Reverse the decisions related to the status of integral parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Crimea. And to do the very same with regards to Georgia – withdraw forces, allow humanitarian access, reverse the status related decision with regards to the occupied territories.
Georgia was among the co-sponsors of the draft Security Council resolution that got vetoed, and we are the co-sponsors of the draft General Assembly resolution that is soon to be considered. This resolution, although it concerns Ukraine, is a watershed moment for all of us, and I would daresay for the future of the rules-based order, and our United Nations. So I call on you to vote in favor of the proposed draft, to vote to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to vote for the United Nations.
In conclusion,
We welcome the Secretary General’s decision to scale up the United Nations’ humanitarian operations in and around Ukraine.
And, let me reiterate Georgia’s unwavering support of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea and Donbas, and Ukraine’s navigational rights in its territorial waters.
I thank you!