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National statement delivered by Ambassador Audra Plepytė, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN, at the United Nations General Assembly plenary meeting on the situation in the temporary occupied territories of Ukraine

Mr. President,

First of all I welcome President Poroshenko to the General Assembly and this important debate.

My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and would like to highlight the following elements in its national capacity.

It is symbolic to have this General Assembly meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine on a day as we commemorate fifth anniversary of powerful yet tragic events in Maidan. Allow me to use this opportunity to pay tribute to the heroism and devotion of Ukrainians in defending their freedom and democracy.

Five years ago first so-called “green men” appeared in the Crimea, that led to the occupation and the annexation of the Peninsula and attempts to do the same in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Regretfully, five years on, the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine remains dire and the deadliest conflict of recent times on the European soil is still ongoing.   

Mr. President,

The respect for international law by all countries is vital to maintaining international peace and security. Unfortunately, five years of recent conflict in Ukraine is a history of blunt neglect and violations of international law and the UN Charter. The annexation of Crimea shakes the very basis of international legal order and threatens international peace and security. Let me be clear: the role of Russia and its continuous violations of the stability and territorial integrity of Ukraine cannot be underestimated. The conflict in Ukraine was initiated, remains orchestrated, financed and supported by Moscow.  

Therefore, it is Russia that has a key to solve the situation in Ukraine.

Mr. President,   

Let me now turn to some steps that are crucial for the situation in Ukraine to be resolved.

Full and swift implementation of Minsk agreements by all parties is a central precondition to achieve lasting solution of this deadly conflict. In this regard, we especially call on Russia to stop providing its financial and military support to separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and to exercise its influence and power to ensure that these regions meet the Minsk commitments in full.

We fully back the activities of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. At the same time we regret to witness that it is increasingly facing threats and is denied access to some areas in temporary occupied territories of Ukraine. We call on all sides to ensure an unconditional and safe access of international observers from the OSCE Mission to all areas inscribed in the mandate of the Mission.

We strongly condemn recent increase of tension in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait and the violation of international law by Russia. We request immediate release of the Ukrainian service members and return of illegally seized vessels. In this regard, we also call for an immediate release of the approximately 70 political prisoners being held in Crimean Peninsula and Russia, in particular Pavlo Hryb and Edem Berkirov, who both require urgent medical assistance.

Different reports provide evidence about an intense and systematic repressive policy on the Crimean Peninsula against human right defenders, journalists and civil society. Judiciary system is used for politically motivated prosecution of opponents in Crimea, especially targeting Crimean Tatars. Full compliance with international human rights standards in the peninsula is of paramount importance.

Lithuania along with other European countries continuously provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. We also urge international community to contribute to ease the suffering of civilians. Conflict in the eastern Ukraine caused humanitarian crisis which is directly affecting over 5 million people on both sides of the contact line, majority of them elderly people. Civilian population is increasingly facing threats of mines and unexploded remnants of war. The security of humanitarian personnel, their full access to those in need and proper functioning of critical civilian infrastructure is crucial.   

Mr. President,

To conclude, let me once again reconfirm Lithuania’s full support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We would also call on the international community and Member States of the United Nations to continue to stand next to Ukraine by supporting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I thank you.

New York, 20 February 2019