It is a great
honour for me to address the world community: the
United Nations and its biggest representative body, the
General Assembly.
Together with all other Member States, I am
grateful to the Macedonian representative
Mr. Srgjan Kerim for his effective work as President of
the Assembly at its last session.
I congratulate Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann
of Nicaragua on his election as President of the
General Assembly at its sixty-third session. I wish him
every success at this critical time.
I am confident that we all have the same feeling.
Empty words and general discussions have had their
day. We feel a cool wind in international relations that
complicates and tempers mutual responsibilities. The
difference in temperature and pressure leads to a
hurricane. Atmospheric changes in worldwide politics
have comparable effects.
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The great illusion of power becomes today’s
ultimate weakness and the giant vehicle of ideals and
shaping forces. The principal challenge before us lies
in the neglect and undermining of the standards of
international law and foreign affairs.
We see a trend towards the demolition of the
global system, whose cornerstone is the unflagging
international will and respect for the sovereignty,
territorial integrity and established boundaries of
States.
Ukraine has the right to speak these words. We
were among the founders of the United Nations and
one of the co-authors of its Charter.
We are a nation that underwent fatal trials and
regained a commonwealth in a legitimate and
recognized way. The representatives of dozens of
States that share such a fate with us are here in this
room.
The latest events in the Caucasus are of the
utmost concern to us. I express condolences for the
tragedy suffered by each human being and each family
regardless of race or allegiance — Georgians,
Ossetians and Russians. Suffering does not
discriminate among peoples. Each person has dignity
and the ability to recognize truth, hypocrisy, deliberate
aggression, manipulation of public opinion and candid
support for separatism.
Ukraine condemns all acts of aggression and use
of force that occurred in the region. Ukraine vigorously
denounces violation of the territorial integrity and
inviolability of the Georgian frontiers and the armed
annexation of its territory.
Ukraine does not recognize the independence of
the self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. Ukraine does not acknowledge, and
condemns, the attempt at illegitimate and separatist
affirmation of the statehood of any territories. This
position is fundamental for Ukrainian foreign policy.
Deviation from the United Nations principles,
such as the use of force, and the renewal of cold-war
rhetoric provoke our deep concern. Those processes
create a potential threat both for Ukraine and for other
countries in the region.
The problem cannot be solved through isolation,
self-isolation or mutual accusations. There is only one
way out. With common and good will we are to
consolidate our values and the aims contained in the
United Nations Charter and the Millennium
Declaration.
With full responsibility for peace and security, we
need to stop disturbances by separatist spirits, which
can turn into misfortune for the instigators themselves.
It is essential to reject blackmailing and threatening
vocabulary. Ukraine rejects pressure of any kind
regarding ways to ensure its own security and to
determine membership in collective security structures.
Such attempts at infringement are short-sighted and
counterproductive.
We call for the strengthening of the role of the
Security Council, the only body with exclusive
authority in issues of global peace and security. We
need its decisions to be balanced and its actions to be
effective.
Ukraine supports all efforts aimed at peaceful
settlement and unblocking of the situation on the South
Caucasus and will fully cooperate in that process. We
will continue our peacekeeping activities firmly and
vigorously, and we will participate in the settlement of
the protracted conflicts on the basis of respect for the
principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity,
inviolability of borders, human rights, freedoms and
dignity.
The world is waiting for a confident and positive
response from the United Nations. The world needs
renewed confidence in our collective efforts and strict
adherence to the norms of international law and to the
United Nations Organization.
Our national agenda is concordant with the main
challenges facing the international community. As a
country possessing the best black-earth soil in the
world, Ukraine is going to contribute tangibly to the
common work on solving the global food crisis.
We plan to consolidate all possible efforts to
realize an effective and just energy policy. The
principles that should be implemented are mutual
benefit, the continuous fulfilment of obligations and
the inadmissibility of any energy pressure.
We reinforce our call for more active global
cooperation in the sphere of the environment. Ukraine
puts forward an initiative to develop a binding
framework agreement — a World Environmental
Constitution — and to establish a single-structure
system for ecological and environmental protection,
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with relevant authority and mechanisms in the United
Nations.
We plan to revitalize efforts in the fight against
HIV/AIDS and other dangerous diseases. This problem
remains highly topical for Ukraine.
Undoubtedly, Ukraine will continue to keep an
eye on the whole range of common tasks and
challenges, from poverty problems to trafficking in
human beings, international terrorism and proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction.
The line we follow is clear. Our policy is based
on democratic values, open dialogue with all partners
of different cultures, and unconditional respect for
fundamental human rights. I have the honour to appeal
to the world community with a request for solidarity.
This year Ukraine will mark the seventy-fifth
anniversary of the Great Famine — the Holodomor,
which took the lives of about 10 million of our
compatriots. Our intention is not directed against any
people or State. We neither overstate nor understate our
sorrow. The tenor of hunger in Ukraine was oriented
towards genocide and was accompanied by the total
elimination of the national elite, the public leadership
and the priesthood. The goal was to overpower a nation
of millions, because, according to the regime, there
were too many people to displace to Siberia.
It is important that our steps encourage other
countries of the former Soviet Union to find the truth.
We share the pain of all the people affected —
Russians, Belarusians, Kazakhs and dozens of other
nations. We invite a joint commemoration of each
national tragedy and no toleration of new attempts to
create a heroic aureole around Stalin and his regime.
We have invaluable examples of mutual understanding
with Poland, Hungary and other States. Honest and
sincere memories about the past have not split us but
have united us. It is our aspiration that memories of the
victims of the Holodomor and other crimes of
totalitarian regimes will prevent the world from
repeating such catastrophes.
I believe in our ability to respond effectively to
every challenge the world is facing. Ukraine is
determined to work on this. We will act as dedicated
partners. Everything is in our hands. I believe in our
power, will and wisdom.