“Ukraine and the whole Europe will be more secure if Russian troops stay home!” said the Albanian Ambassador to the UN in New York, Ferit Hoxha at the General Assembly meeting on the situation in Ukraine on February 23, 2022. Full text of the remarks follow:
Eight years ago, Russia seized the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol from Ukraine. It was an illegal act, against the UN Charter, the Helsniki Final Act, the Budapest Memorandum and International law.
Two days ago, the same country orchestrated the occupation of two other territories of the that same country, Ukraine, which it visibly considers a pray and should not have even the right to exist. It is again an illegal act, against UN Charter, the Helsniki Final Act, the Budapest Memorandum and International law.
No other Member of the Security Council has committed such blatant violations of commitment and treaties it has signed since World War II.
What is happening nowadays in Ukraine follows the same pattern, in a predictable script. It is a continuation of an aggression against a Member of this Assembly. After months of military building up on the Ukrainian border, the decision to recognize non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine as independent entities is a mockery to the rules that govern relations between sovereign states and stands in disrespect of everything, we all stand here for.
It is a further blatant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and it puts to an end the Minsk Agreements, which Russia itself, only a few days ago in the Security Council committed to respect. But, as it has been confirmed, what Russia says, it is not what Russia does.
Today we find ourselves before a choice: either we defend our shared principles; stand by the UN Charter which is our International Constitution; respect International Law which governs a rules-based world order of a community of nations; or yield to aggression, international bullying and the rule according to which “what is yours is mine”. We should stand firm now, not to have to regret what may further happen tomorrow.
The General Assembly has continuously condemned in clear an unequivocal term the annexation of Crimea. It should condemn this new form of aggression by proliferation of phantom republics, which redraw international borders at one person’s will.
What is unfolding nowadays in Ukraine goes beyond one single country, or even a region. It has to do with core principles of international law and the logic and foundations of international order. We do not think that in the 21st century the future of any country can be built with the laws, behaviors and errors of the past.
Albania strongly condemns Russia’s decision to recognize non-government controlled areas of Ukraine as independent entities as well as any attempts, ideas or hints to export it elsewhere in Russia’s vicinity, in Europe or beyond. It should ring the alarm bell to every UN Member State and we call on the General Assembly to reject and condemn it firmly.
We reiterate our support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders and territorial waters.
We are very concerned by the decision of Russia to send a so-called “peace-keeping mission” into Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities did not ask for them, the Security Council did not mandate them. They do not go there to keep peace but to exacerbate a conflict. And as the Secretary General Guterres rightly pointed out, this is a perversion of the concept of peacekeeping. Ukraine and the whole Europe will be more secure if Russian troops stay home!
We reiterate our call on Russia for immediate de-escalation and military disengagement. This would prepare the ground for a peaceful settlement of disputes through diplomacy and meaningful dialogue.
We reiterate our call on Russia to reverse its decisions and engage in talks within the Normandy Format and give a chance to the Minsk Agreements.
We will continue to emphasize the value and the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in reaching a peaceful resolution in the conflict in eastern Ukraine and dealing with Russian concerns.
We also welcome the quick and unified reaction by the European Union in coordination with United States, United Kingdom and Canada in adopting a proportionate package of sanctions as an anticipated response to Russia’s decisions and behavior. / Argumentum.al
