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Mr. President, I wish to convey my delegation’s appreciation to you and your team for efficient and productive Presidency of the Council. We are approaching the end of 2014, arguably the most intensive year the Council has ever had. I wish we could conclude this year with a sense of accomplishment and closure. But that is not the case. The year 2015 will inherit the largest number of refugees and displaced people ever, significant gaps in accountability and ending impunity, a mutated and ever more diverse threat of terrorism, and an even more diverse geography of conflicts that demand our urgent attention and determined action.    

Six months ago at the Asia Society the UN Secretary-General pleaded with the international community not to abandon the people of Syria and the region to waves of cruelty and devastation and offered a six point way ahead. Barely on one point – the destruction of chemical weapons – significant progress has been achieved.

The people of Syria continue to suffer from displacement, torture, enforced disappearances, sieges and starvation, and barrel bombs, from the hands of the tyrannical Assad’s regime and murderous terrorist groups. Humanitarian access continues to be denied, convoys delayed, vital medicines confiscated, doctors and humanitarian workers under constant danger.

Resolution 2139 has been ignored or violated on almost all points. Protected by a series of vetoes, those who are causing such extraordinary destruction and devastation continue to enjoy impunity.

We welcome the renewal last week for one year of the provisions of resolution 2165 and thank the penholders Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg for their passionate and patient work throughout the year, in the face of this unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

We hope that the efforts of UN peace envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura will lead to life-saving solutions. We stress however, that local freezes should not become just another “surrender or starve” instrument in the hands of the Assad regime- or anyone for that matter. 

Mr. President,

The year 2014 has reminded us all how easily hopes can be overturned and the tenuous stories of success can give way to more destruction and bloodshed. Thus in spite of the most competent and inclusive government in its history, Yemen is again at a dangerous cross-road where peaceful transition and vital reforms can be overtaken by more violence, growing sectarianism, and fragmentation of the state. A continued united and firm stance and action by this Council, in cooperation with Yemen’s neighbours, the GCC countries, is paramount to preventing such a negative outcome. If necessary, the Council should be ready to expand the use of sanctions regime, including new listings.   

For a year now, the Council has been seized of the situation in the youngest of UN member states- South Sudan, where personal ambitions and complete disregard for the needs of the young nation by the country’s leaders have crippled the country and caused a another major humanitarian crisis. The Council’s – and IGAD’s - continuous calls to stop fighting have been ignored. In the absence of tangible progress, the Council should not shy away from taking action against those impeding the peace process in South Sudan, including sanctions and a full arms embargo as a means of protecting  civilians in a situation where their own leaders are unable and unwilling to protect.

The transformation of MISCA into MINUSCA, supported by the ongoing efforts by Sangaris and the EU, have brought renewed hopes for an end to violence in CAR. However, it is essential at this stage not to lower the Council’s guard by a premature sense of a “mission accomplished”. The much too easy access to illicit arms, the control by the opposing militant groups of the extraction and sale of diamonds and gold, the weakness of state institutions and a pervasive sense of impunity are an explosive mix which can erupt in renewed violence any time.  It is essential that the sanctions regime, including the arms embargo, be fully implemented by all, including by CAR’s neighbours.

Mr. President,

Since the last Council meeting, the situation in the east of Ukraine and Crimea has not improved. Russian arms and ammunition, as well as mercenary fighters have continued to cross into Ukrainian territory under various guises, prolonging the conflict which has already displaced over a million people. In spite of the ceasefire, barely a day has passed by without casualties on the Ukrainian side.

Russia continues to block an expansion of the OSCE Border Monitoring Mission. The signals that Russia intends to deploy offensive nuclear systems in Crimea in contravention of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are profoundly disturbing. We reiterate our position that Minsk agreements must be implemented in full and by all parties.  A durable solution to this conflict can only be based on full respect for the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine.  

The  issue should remain on the Council agenda with regular updates, including on the human rights situation. We welcome a decision by the Office of High Representative on Human Rights to continue reporting on the human rights situation in Ukraine in 2015. Because in the occupied Crimea indigenous Tatar population continues to suffer persecution, while the separatist-held areas of eastern Ukraine remain black holes of impunity and lawlessness, with extra-judicial and summary killings, torture, intimidation, ill-treatment, extortion, abductions for ransom and forced labour as the trademark of pro-Russian militants.

Lithuania is also deeply concerned by Russia’s continued efforts to undermine Georgia’s sovereignty and independence. The so-called treaty on alliance and strategic partnership signed recently between Russia and the region of Abkhazia undermines all efforts to find a solution to the conflict based on the principle of Georgia’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and constitutes a step towards the annexation of Abkhazia by Russia. There are very real fears that a similar scenario will be played out in the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia.

Mr. President,

Let me now briefly move on to a few thematic issues. In its Resolution 2117 the Council linked the illicit trade and misuse of small arms and light weapons with negative consequences on human rights, humanitarian efforts and development, and in particular the protection of civilian populations. Next year the Secretary General is to submit a report on small arms and light weapons.  This, combined with the entry into force of the Arms Trade Treaty, offers an important  opportunity to improve the protection of civilians as well as those who are there to help them on the ground- humanitarian workers, medical staff, and peace-keepers.

The open debate on terrorism and cross-border crime  initiated by Chad reminded us all of the importance of breaking the nefarious links between criminality and terrorism and  disrupting terrorism financing, which relies on an increasing variety of sources.  The urgency of working out effective counter- narratives to expose the terrorists for what they are- nothing else but despicable rapists, murderers and executioners of sleeping children, helpless elderly, women and girls- cannot be stressed enough. In fact, the need for a break-through in the ever more sophisticated battle for the hearts and minds of potential terrorism recruits has never been more urgent. 

Finally, with regard to the sanctions regimes which are more numerous than at any time before in the Council’s history, we remain of a view that the Australian draft resolution was a missed opportunity to improve the application of this important tool at the Council’s disposal to sharpen the impact on the perpetrators while at the same time improving necessary assistance and capacity building to the affected states.    

Let me conclude by joining my colleagues in welcoming the incoming non-permanent members of the Security Council, and conveying our deepest appreciation to the outgoing teams of Australia, Korea, Rwanda, Argentina and Luxembourg  for their dedicated work and collegiality during  this incredibly busy year.