SHARE

Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the briefers for their participation and would like to make brief remarks.

First, I would once again underline that it is civilians who bear the highest cost of war. We are concerned by the scale of disinformation and hate speech that has been amplified by technology and has been harmful to both civilians and humanitarian workers. We must instead focus on determining the facts on the ground, through impartial investigations, data collection, and reporting. We appreciate all journalists who risk their lives on the front lines of conflict in an effort to provide accurate reporting even in the most difficult situations.

Second, we reiterate our call on the parties to the conflict to strictly and fully abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law. We stress the need for accountability so that justice for victims and survivors is served.

Third, we appreciate the efforts of the Secretary-General, including his visit to Russia and Ukraine. We welcome and are encouraged by the progress we have seen in recent days in the safe evacuation of civilians through coordination of the UN, authorities of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. We are hopeful that further progress can be made to facilitate voluntary and safe passage for civilians caught up in this conflict.

To conclude, we reiterate our deep concern about the terrible toll this conflict has had on civilians in Ukraine, and our call for a cessation of hostilities and a negotiated solution to this conflict. The UAE stands in support of efforts to facilitate dialogue and bring an end to this war. As the Secretary-General stressed yesterday it is imperative “for the sake of the people of Ukraine, Russia, and the entire world”.

Thank you.