Intervento nazionale pronunciato dal Rappresentante Permanente dell’ Italia alle Nazioni Unite, Ambasciatrice Mariangela Zappia, alla Riunione Plenaria dell’Assemblea Generale sulla situazione nei territori dell’Ucraina temporeanamente occupati —
Thank you, Mr. President,
Italy fully subscribes to the statement delivered by the European Union.
Italy recalls its unwavering support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized legal borders. We remain deeply concerned by the crisis in and around Ukraine and its impact on the stability and cooperation in Europe. As Chairmanship-in-Office of the OSCE in 2018, Italy has spared no effort to restore mutual trust and facilitate dialogue toward a lasting and sustainable solution, assigning absolute priority to alleviating the humanitarian conditions of the civilian population. The Italian Chairmanship has worked relentlessly to strengthen the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and has tried to take maximum advantage of the unique platform for dialogue provided by the OSCE, inter alia by convening two special meetings of the Permanent Council to discuss the developments of the crisis and a special Political Directors’ Meeting, on the margins of the Ministerial Council last December in Milan, to explore avenues for a full-fledged UN peacekeeping mission in close coordination with the OSCE.
Mr. President,
In line with the UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262, we condemn and do not recognize the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula and we reiterate our utmost concern for the ongoing militarization of the peninsula and and the Azov Seas.
We urge the full respect of international humanitarian and human rights’ law in the Crimean peninsula in line with UN General Assembly Resolutions 71/205, 72/190 and 73/263, which Italy supported and cosponsored. Human rights observers and humanitarian actors should be granted full and unhindered access.
Mr. President,
Italy remains strongly committed to a sustainable political solution based on the Minsk Agreements and reaffirms our strong support for diplomatic efforts in the Normandy format, the OSCE and the Trilateral Contact Group. We urge all sides to show genuine commitment and political will to allow negotiations in these formats to regain momentum.
There is no alternative to the Minsk Agreements. We call on all sides to swiftly and fully implement them and condemn all initiatives that run counter to their letter and spirit. We call on Russia to assume its responsibility in this regard.
We call on all sides to work in good faith to respect all their commitments, starting with the establishment of a full and comprehensive ceasefire, the withdrawal of all heavy weapons and the disengagement process.
The role of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission is essential. Our support for the SMM and its observers is unwavering. The OSCE SMM must be granted safe, secure, unhindered and unconditional access throughout Ukraine in accordance with its mandate.
Mr. President,
The civilian population is bearing the heaviest burden. The death toll of five years of conflict and the continued threat represented by shelling and mines remind us that, despite all our common efforts, peace isn’t yet a reality in Europe. It is imperative to stop the violence, proceed immediately to fulfill all mine action commitments and ensure full and unimpeded access to all humanitarian actors.
The vulnerability, especially of the elderly, and the loss of lives at crossing points are unacceptable. Urgent steps must be undertaken to facilitate the safe crossing of the contact line to civilians, by ensuring the security and accessibility of existing crossing points and by taking measures for the opening of new ones. Priority must be given to the provision of basic services, ensuring the repair, protection and continual functioning of critical civilian infrastructures, and access to social benefits and pensions for all internally displaced people as established by the Ukrainian Constitution.
Mr. President,
Dialogue may not be the easiest choice but is the only choice. confrontation is not a solution. It cannot be sustainable for the security of the region and is certainly not sustainable for the people. Italy will continue, at the bilateral level, within the EU and in the relevant multilateral fora, to lend its support for intensified diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.for a peaceful solution.
I thank you.
