The Pacific Islands Forum member States with a presence at the United Nations in New York have registered their “deep alarm” at the unfolding crisis in Ukraine.
In his statement yesterday to the UN Emergency Special Session on Ukraine, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair at UN and Fiji’s Permanent Representative at UN Ambassador Satyendra Prasad called on the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and all parties to take every available measure to de-escalate the situation and return to the path of diplomacy in good conscience.
He said they welcomed the beginning of talks between the Ukrainian and Russian governments, and “we call for an immediate ceasefire, safe humanitarian access to affected areas and the urgent withdrawal of military forces in accordance with internationally recognised borders”.
“The actions of the Russian Federation are violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We call on the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally reverse its decision related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine,” Ambassador Prasad said.
“Our Blue Pacific relies on the rules-based international order that has promoted peace among our global family for over half a century.
“The challenges we collectively face today are numerous and will not be overcome without peaceful dialogue.”
Mr Prasad said climate Change and COVID-19 must remain at the forefront of global efforts; “our actions must be guided by established rules and norms”.
“We wish to recall the Preamble of the UN Charter to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.
“We reaffirm the importance of the rules-based international order and the resolution of international disputes by peaceful means, respect for national sovereignty and collective action in response to unlawful challenges to national integrity and independence.
“In doing so, the PIF UN members join the widespread calls for a return to peace and dialogue in the spirit of multilateralism which the United Nations holds among its highest ideals.”