UNITED NATIONS —Russia called for an
emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council Tuesday to urge that
international community take urgent measures to improve humanitarian
conditions in eastern Ukraine, where the government and Russian-backed
separatists have been fighting for months. Some Council members accused
Russia of being the cause of the crisis it seeks to contain.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin noted that nearly 800,000
Ukrainians have sought refuge in Russia since early this year. He said
Moscow is prepared to take on this “great burden” without outside help.
In eastern Ukraine, where the U.N. says nearly 4 million people live in areas affected by violence, Ambassador Churkin said action is necessary to improve living conditions, and Moscow is prepared to help.
“We would like to send a convoy with Russian humanitarian assistance under the egis and with the accompaniment of the ICRC to Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as to other inhabited areas of Ukraine where IDPs are concentrated from the east," said Churkin.
Churkin said the greatest need is for food, medicine, medical equipment, water purification systems and generators. He said Russia is prepared to act transparently and let the international community monitor the convoys, their transport routes and the distribution of aid.
Some Council members, including Britain’s ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, were skeptical, saying Russia’s support of armed rebels is responsible for the worsening humanitarian situation in the east.
“We agree that there needs to be an end to violence. We agree that alleviating humanitarian distress is a matter of priority; but Russia cannot credibly present itself as supporting the people of eastern Ukraine when it is the architect of the violence that afflicts them," said Lyall Grant.
U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo noted that Russia has the means to end the instability.
“Russia can stop all of this. The surest way to end the violence is for Russia to stop the flow of fighters, weapons and money from Russia into eastern Ukraine. Russia has the ability to get the separatists it supports to lay down their arms, sit at the negotiating table and work to implement President [Petro] Poroshenko’s peace plan," said DiCarlo.
She said instead of positive steps, Russia has nearly doubled its battalions near the Ukrainian border. She also expressed concern about Russia’s plan to conduct a large-scale military exercise near the border that could escalate tensions.
The United Nations has voiced concern for the protection of civilians as military operations are increasingly being conducted in densely populated urban areas. The U.N. also has urged Ukraine to establish a central registration system to track and assist the displaced.
Margaret Besheer
http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-criticized-for-worsening-humanitarian-situation-in-ukraine/1972481.html
5/8/14
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In eastern Ukraine, where the U.N. says nearly 4 million people live in areas affected by violence, Ambassador Churkin said action is necessary to improve living conditions, and Moscow is prepared to help.
“We would like to send a convoy with Russian humanitarian assistance under the egis and with the accompaniment of the ICRC to Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as to other inhabited areas of Ukraine where IDPs are concentrated from the east," said Churkin.
Churkin said the greatest need is for food, medicine, medical equipment, water purification systems and generators. He said Russia is prepared to act transparently and let the international community monitor the convoys, their transport routes and the distribution of aid.
Some Council members, including Britain’s ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, were skeptical, saying Russia’s support of armed rebels is responsible for the worsening humanitarian situation in the east.
“We agree that there needs to be an end to violence. We agree that alleviating humanitarian distress is a matter of priority; but Russia cannot credibly present itself as supporting the people of eastern Ukraine when it is the architect of the violence that afflicts them," said Lyall Grant.
U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo noted that Russia has the means to end the instability.
“Russia can stop all of this. The surest way to end the violence is for Russia to stop the flow of fighters, weapons and money from Russia into eastern Ukraine. Russia has the ability to get the separatists it supports to lay down their arms, sit at the negotiating table and work to implement President [Petro] Poroshenko’s peace plan," said DiCarlo.
She said instead of positive steps, Russia has nearly doubled its battalions near the Ukrainian border. She also expressed concern about Russia’s plan to conduct a large-scale military exercise near the border that could escalate tensions.
The United Nations has voiced concern for the protection of civilians as military operations are increasingly being conducted in densely populated urban areas. The U.N. also has urged Ukraine to establish a central registration system to track and assist the displaced.
Margaret Besheer
http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-criticized-for-worsening-humanitarian-situation-in-ukraine/1972481.html
5/8/14
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China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, calling on the international community to play a constructive role in easing it...
ReplyDeleteLiu Jieyi made the remarks at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in Ukraine.
He stressed that China is concerned by the civilian casualties resulting from the ongoing tension in some areas of eastern Ukraine.
"We hope that the international community would play a constructive role in easing the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine," Liu said. "We hope that the UN humanitarian agencies would strictly abide by the principles of neutrality and objectivity."
The ambassador pointed out that there is an urgent need to engage in political consultation and comprehensive dialogue with a view to realizing a ceasefire as soon as possible.
"The parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, increase dialogue and consultations on the basis of initiatives including the Geneva consensus, meet each other halfway, give full play to the role of the current dialogue and liaison mechanism, and seek a comprehensive settlement through peaceful means," Liu said.
"A political settlement of the Ukraine crisis should give full accommodation to the legitimate claims of various regions and ethnic groups, so as to achieve a balance of their interests," he said.
The Chinese envoy called on the international community to do more to promote peace, dialogue and the creation of favorable conditions for the parties concerned to maintain dialogue and engagement.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/874582.shtml
6/8/14