Mister President,
I thank the Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Mr Ebo, for his remarks.
As a global community, we are bound by a series of principles and rules that we have pledged to uphold. These include the United Nations Charter, which sets out the principles to live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and which enshrines the prohibition on the use of force, the right to self-defence, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states. And then there are the Geneva Conventions, which aim to mitigate the horrors of war by establishing minimum humanitarian standards to be respected in armed conflict.
Two days ago, we met to discuss the political and security situation in Ukraine. We stress that the gravity of the current situation, the heightened tensions and the suffering of the Ukrainian population - and indeed of the Russian population too - are a direct result of Russia's military aggression. We condemn this military aggression and reject any attempt to evade this responsibility. Let me also reiterate that Ukraine has the right to ensure its security and to defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
In the light of the continuing hostilities, two key messages stand out clearly:
Firstly: It is imperative to put an end to this ongoing war.
And secondly: It is unacceptable for civilians to continue to pay the price.
From the outset, we have called on Russia to end its military aggression and withdraw its troops from
Ukrainian territory. It is appalling that, despite these calls - reiterated by the vast majority of the General Assembly and the International Court of Justice - the military aggression persists, exacerbated by the transfer of arms and munitions to Russia from third parties in apparent contravention of the obligations arising from resolutions of this Council. I reiterate that States must respect and comply with their obligations under international arms control instruments.
Regarding the protection of civilians, Switzerland expresses its deep concern and sorrow over the numerous lives lost, the wounded and the immense suffering caused by this military aggression, wherever it may occur. Our position in this regard is firmly rooted in international humanitarian law and human rights. We remind all parties to the conflict of their obligation to place the protection of civilians and those no longer taking part in hostilities at the forefront.
Mister President,
As one of the signatories of the Geneva Convention said in 1949: “We know today that war never solves the problems that gave rise to it. It is always followed by long years of suffering for the vanquished and for the victors, and its results are not commensurate with the evils it generates”.
I would like to stress that it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the principles to which we have committed ourselves are respected, in order to pave the way for a more peaceful and just world, including in Ukraine.
I thank you.