“The reasons given were the complex situation on the ground as well as the impossibility of providing security for his delegation,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York.
Mr. Šimonović, who was dispatched by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to continue the UN’s high-level engagement with the country and to assess the human rights situation, had hoped to travel to Crimea during his week-long mission.
- “As in all areas where access is denied, Mr. Šimonovic will report on human rights challenges in Crimea based on sources including the diplomatic community and international and national organizations,” Mr. Dujarric stated.
Senior UN officials have been appealing to all parties to de-escalate tensions and to engage in direct and constructive dialogue to forge a peaceful way forward in Ukraine, which has been witnessing unrest for several months.
- Tensions heightened last week as lawmakers in Crimea, where additional Russian troops and armoured vehicles have recently been deployed, voted to join Russia and to hold a referendum on 16 March to validate the decision.
un.org
12/3/14
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UN envoy not allowed to visit Crimea for fear of provocations...
ReplyDeleteUnited Nations Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic was not allowed into Crimea for fear of provocations, Crimean Supreme Council Speaker Volodymyr Konstantinov told reported on Thursday.
"There are many observers here, and frankly speaking, we already get confused [to identify them]," he said. The problem of security is not in that we cannot ensure it, but in the fact that there is no confidence in Western structures, and people expect provocations from them," he said.
"We have decided to bar such visits to prevent such incidents," Konstantinov added.
The UN envoy visited Kiev, Kharkiv and Lviv where he met with local authorities.
http://en.itar-tass.com/world/723380
13/3/14