Statement by Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett at the UN Security Council Briefing on “Threats to International Peace and Security” (Ukraine)

Thank you, Mr. President

I thank the Director and Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Mr. Adedeji Ebo, for his insightful brief.

I took note of the concern expressed about the risks of the diversion of weapons and ammunition and the need to ensure that arms transfers comply with relevant disarmament instruments and UN Security Council resolutions. As a State Party to the Arms Trade Treaty, the Conventions on Biological Weapons, Chemical Weapons, Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Landmine, among others, Guyana echoes this call for compliance with international law and international disarmament instruments and obligations.

We share the view that the supply of weapons and ammunition into any armed conflict situation has the potential to further escalate or prolong the violence and risks of diversion. We, therefore, urge that all transfers are transparent, within international legal frameworks, and have provisions for controls to prevent their irregular transfer.

Mr. President,

We are of the view that the only effective means of preventing any further escalation or instability in Ukraine and the broader region, is to end this war. Its prolongation poses increasingly grave risks and consequences for all countries and global peace and security.

Estimates to date indicate that there have been almost 30,000 civilian casualties since the start of this war two years ago. The scale of current humanitarian needs in Ukraine remains quite vast with more than 14 million people in need of multisectoral humanitarian assistance. Equally alarming is the fact that four million people – including nearly one million children – are still displaced within Ukraine, while over 6 million continue to live as refugees in neighbouring and other countries. UNHCR estimates that close to 1 billion dollars is needed to support the humanitarian needs in Ukraine and in host countries. These figures are staggering.

As we call upon the international community to scale up humanitarian support, we urge the parties to commit to a serious political and diplomatic process toward ending the conflict peacefully, and with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

War has no place in the world in this twenty-first century. It is time that we come together to end the hostilities and deploy the necessary resources to rebuild lives.

I Thank You!