Efforts To End Conflict In Ukraine Remain Mixed, Durable Peace Not Ensured Yet

The Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco told members of the Security Council that the results of efforts to end the conflict remain mixed, and that despite recent important agreements, much more work needs to be done to ensure that lasting and durable peace prevails in Ukraine.

Fernandez-Taranco noted that on 5th September 2014, under the auspices of the trilateral contact group, the Minks Protocol was signed to halt the violent conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

He also said "it outlines specific steps, that if fully implemented would help the people of Ukraine emerge from the national nightmare that they have endure for much of this year."

Also speaking to members of the Security Council Friday (24 Oct), the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic said that the implementation of the 5 September ceasefire agreement remains fragile, and that human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law continue to be committed.

He said that there is a clear threat that we may be facing yet another protracted low-intensity conflict.

Nonetheless, Simonovic said, the ceasefire agreement still presents the most significant opportunity for a peaceful solution to the situation in the east.

Reports have surfaced in recent days alleging the use of banned cluster munitions in Ukraine. Cluster munitions release many small individual bombs when exploded and they leave behind dangerous remnants that kill and injure civilians.

The US ambassador David Pressman said "we are also aware of an NGO reporting of the use of cluster munitions, which takes note of the Ukrainian Government denying the use of such weapons and we take very seriously all accusations regarding harm to civilians and unequivocally condemn any indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas.

He added "there should be no excuses for abuses committed by anyone fighting in Eastern Ukraine and all such accusations should be fully investigated as soon as the security conditions allow."

The Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Pavlichenko said "last week, Human Rights Watch published a report in which it's suggested that Ukrainian Armed forces may have used cluster munitions in Donetsk. Our forces have never prohibited weapons, including cluster munitions."

Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin "we are extremely worried by the increase of neo-Nazi feelings in Ukraine, which have been encouraged by the officials in Kiev. On 14 and 15 of October in Kiev, Kharkov and Odessa and a number of cities torch carrying parades of neo-Nazis with fascist insignias rallied and Hitler was quoted there."

He asked the Security Council "Ukraine, with this kind of ideological baggage, intend to move towards Europe?"

Churkin also said "our eloquent western colleagues don't see anything about this. We think it is strange and unacceptable that this topic was completely –completely- left out of today's briefings by Mr. Simonovic and Mr. Taranco."

While the human rights and political situation have been a consistent concern, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine is likely to become a more prominent issue for the Council in the near future given the upcoming winter, the significant number of IDPs, disrupted public services and the damaged infrastructure in the east.

Additionally, there is still uncertainty about whether Russia and Ukraine will come to an agreement on the resumption of gas supplies from Russia to Ukraine. Absent such an agreement, the humanitarian situation will become worse with the onset of winter. Russia shut off the flow of gas to Ukraine in June, complaining about Ukraine's unpaid debt.

SHOTLIST:
24 OCTOBER 2014, NEW YORK CITY

Exterior United Nations Headquarters
Security Council
Security Council president
Delegates
Security Council
Security Council

SOUNDBITE (English) Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"Since the last time we met to discuss Ukraine the results of efforts to end the conflict remain mixed. On 5th September 2014, under the auspices of the trilateral contact group, the Minks Protocol was signed to halt the violent conflict in Eastern Ukraine. It outlines specific steps, that if fully implemented would help the people of Ukraine emerge from the national nightmare that they have endure for much of this year."
5. Med shot, Ukrainian delegation"

SOUNDBITE (English) Ivan Simonovic, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights:
"The implementation of the 5 September ceasefire agreement remains fragile. Human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law continue to be committed. There is a clear threat that we may be facing yet another protracted low-intensity conflict."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ivan Simonovic, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights:
"Nonetheless, the 5 September ceasefire agreement, still presents the most significant opportunity for a peaceful solution to the situation in the east. I firmly believe that the 12-point Minsk Protocol has its best chances of holding if it is implemented in line with human rights standards."

SOUNDBITE (English) David Pressman, Alternate Representative of the United States to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs:
"We are also aware of an NGO reporting of the use of cluster munitions, which takes note of the Ukrainian Government denying the use of such weapons and we take very seriously all accusations regarding harm to civilians and unequivocally condemn any indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas. There should be no excuses for abuses committed by anyone fighting in Eastern Ukraine and all such accusations should be fully investigated as soon as the security conditions allow."

SOUNDBITE (English) Oleksandr Pavlichenko, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations:
"Last week, Human Rights Watch published a report in which it's suggested that Ukrainian Armed forces may have used cluster munitions in Donetsk. Our forces have never prohibited weapons, including cluster munitions."

SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vitaly Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
"We are extremely worried by the increase of neo-Nazi feelings in Ukraine, which have been encouraged by the officials in Kiev. On 14 and 15 of October in Kiev, Kharkov and Odessa and a number of cities torch carrying parades of neo-Nazis with fascist insignias rallied and Hitler was quoted there."

SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vitaly Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
"Ukraine, with this kind of ideological baggage, intend to move towards Europe? And our eloquent western colleagues don't see anything about this. We think it is strange and unacceptable that this topic was completely –completely- left out of today's briefings by Mr. Simonovic and Mr. Taranco."

DURATION: 03:14