Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. Welcome to Policy and Rights,
the show about the government policy and human rights. And welcome back to Policy
and Writes Your Depictions Media Radio. I'm your host, Michael Cloggs. We
got a number of things to go over today. The first our hearts go
out to the folks in Texas, in Harrison County that have been hit by
flooding, storming and tornadoes. I have a friend down there who is going
to take a look and see how the county is actually assessing the damage.
She does a lot of business in that particular area, and she is looking
forward to their recovery and wants to help the people find their way back on
their feet again. So with that, we also want to let's start with
Iran. The iron President Ibrahim Rasiti died in helicopter crash at the age of
sixty three. The government has confirmed and nine people were on board the aircraft,
including the country's a foreign minister. No survivors were found after hours of
long search operations in heavy fog and adding to the weather. They could have
played a key role in the crash itself. Razizi's death comes at a front
movement in the Middle East with war raging and gozam. It has also come
weeks after the Iran launch of a drone missile attack on Israel in response to
a des deadly strike on a diplomatic compound in Damascus. And of course we
can talk more about the Trump trial. According to CNN reports, Donald Trump,
Donald Trump's ex attorney Michael Cohen, will be back in court today to
face another round of cross examination in the former president's criminal hush money trial.
Cohen was on the stand for three days last week where he implicated Trump in
reimbursement payment to an adult film stars of course, Stormy Daniels, which mister
Trump denies having sex, having had a sexual affair with her, even if
it was a one night stand, who is at the heart of the Manhattan
Prosecutor's case. The prosecutors alleged Trump broke the law by falsifying financial records to
cover up the payment. This, they argue, was to deceive voters in
twenty sixteen, in an early example of an election of election interference. Trump
denies having had the affair with Ms Daniels and has pleaded not guilty. Cohen
is likely to be the last substantive witness to the stand for the prosecution,
and then it will be the defense turn to make Trump's case. Of course,
again with Trump saying he's not guilty. The Baltimore Bridge. Of course,
there's a bit of controversy around the Baltimore Bridge because the President Biden was
very adamant in the fact that they should use federal funds to get the bridge
started and figure out blame later on, because the bridge is a vital to
the infrastructure and the economic stability of the city of Baltimore. According to the
CNN report, the ill fated cargo Dolly is set to be moved today from
the site of its catastrophic collision with the Franciscott Key Bridge. Nearly eight weeks
have passed since the vessel lost power, veered off course and slammed into the
Baltimore Bridge on March twenty six, killing six construction workers, and the removal
of the ship brings officials one step closer to reopening the Port of Baltimore,
which has been incapacitated since the incident. Wreckage has clogged a major shipping channel
for sugar and automotive industries, and has crippled a major city thoroughfare more than
thirty thousand commuters rely on the bridge every day. According to the Maryland Governor
wesmore So, as I said, the Baltimore the Francis Scott Key Bridge is
a key piece of infrastructure for the city of Baltimore, and that looks like
all the updates that we should have, of substance that we should have.
So we're going to hear today from of course, from the UN Press floor,
and more importantly, we're going to hear some clips from the UN Security
Council as they talk about the war between Russia and Ukraine. And one of
the clips that we're going to hear says that Russia's Russia quotes that only seventeen
percent of the voters in Ukraine actually want to keep the government the way it
is. They want something else, and this is what inspired, of course,
they're the Russian invasion into Ukraine. The of course, the Ukrainian government
is claiming that Russia's invasion was completely illegal, violated numerous Geneva Conventions and and
other international legal documents, and claims that Russia is also trying to interfere in
their elections. So why don't we start with what happened on the Unpression Floor
and then we'll hear some clips from the UN Security Council after that. Well
it's a sunny here. What can I tell you? All Right, good
morning, good afternoon. All just a programming note Torow final thoughts and policy
Walters communications for the International Organization. And we need to find a way to
put the fire and put all these wars out that we have going on around
our world. I have a statement to fighting this morning. Speaking Iran.
The Secretary General is saddened by the death in sid president. If people saw
I'm just trying to say, fighting there is a simple people who don't make
Republic of Iran as well as he just has lived their lives after accident and
yesterday on May nine, he caught up. The Secretary General expresses, since
you look at the found this war deceased, they want to be free of
the Islamic Republican. The depression in the Gaza. Colleagues from the US,
the U N Office for the Coredation of the Palace Affairs and tell us that
Israeli continue to be reported families thrived Gaza as well as ground incursions and heavy
fighting especially. We're going to apply a lot of that same things two more
than note the folks thousand, men, women and children which you courted the
of the one hundred thousand just which is forty stipulation have been dissed over the
past eight weeks in the politics, as we're seeing his causes off more than
one hundred over others in northern we want to address. I want to address
to date, more than seventy five percent of the Gaza strip is trying to
where kilometers is under evacuation orders and formally a dictator ability that under the national
humanitarian laws we create, there's no need to soviet. But I will remind
you he wants to civilians with all they must back under whether they're in Gaza,
the Soviets including food show flag. Again this time it wouldn't be Communists,
it would be as the large battle civilians and Gaza continues his friend of
election, experiencing extremely poor living conditions, that we intimidate people to vote shelter
the way we want people to go to report that there are no tents and
very few shows we should be allowed to vote. Just cast your boat place.
How shall we believe Unita any open land? They said, all of
aress roads and agricultural lands damaged that have not facing maybe structurally a vote coming
up in the United States. Meanwhile, according to powder S, hygiene support
in Gaza doesn't matter. Biden hygiene kits and water containers, Republican Democrat vote.
According to heaven to what is going to bring your family? People move
to areas lacking basic necessities such as water and food. So thank you again,
thank you for listening. Please find this subscriber wherever it is and if
you find our button and give us fighting and in northern bringing stories to us
that we according to our colleagues working the schools and RAFA the food try to
inspire our young pieces be the partners of the World Food Programs have lost access
to more than one hundred distribution points for malnutrition prevention activities. I have a
senior personnel appointment to share with you today. The Secretary General is appointing Janine
Hennis Plashert of the Netherlands as his new Special Coordinator for Lebanon. Miss Hennimplaster
succeeds Joanna Warnetka of Poland, to whom the Secretary General is grateful for the
commitment and leadership of the UN Office for the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, currently
serving as the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Iraq and Head of the
UN Political Mission in Iraqi. Nami Miss Hennis Plashert brings to her to this
position over twenty five years of experience in diplomacy, international security and Middle East
affairs. Prior to that, as you will recall, she was the Minister
of Defense of the Netherlands from twenty twelve to twenty seventeen and she was the
first woman to hold that position. For biography is available to you. Our
Deputy Secretary General Miana Mohammad is in Barbados to open the inaugural Global Supply Chain
Form alongside Prime Minister Mia Motley and Rebecca Greenspan, the Secretary General of UN
Trade and Development. The forum brings together industry leaders, policymakers and experts to
discuss policies that can support the global supply chain management in the face of increasingly
frequent supply chain shocks and the future of global trade. While in Barbados,
the Deputy Secretary General will also discuss the reform of the international financial architecture with
Prime Minister Motley, including the Prime Minister's bridgetown initiative. The Deputy Secretary General
will return to New York tomorrow evening and also on travel. Our Undersecretary General
for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, is in Doha in
Qatar to hold talks with senior government officials on ways to bolster the partnership between
Qatar and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He is also there
to discuss ways to ensure the humanitarian system is better prepared to address crises,
and there are quite a few of those. Today mister Griffiths spoke at the
Global Security Forum, where he noted that strategic competition has been hidden and not
so hidden hand behind the outbreak of seemingly endless conflicts, but he said that
he has hope because of the fiercest conflicts, humanitarian diplomacy has appealed to the
common goods, such as with the Black Sea Grain initiative. Humanity will outlive
the decisions of bad leaders, mister Griffith said, turning to the situation on
the ground in Ukraine, our humanitarian colleagues in Ukraine are telling us that today
over the weekend, escalating hostilities in the Kharkiv region have continued to cause multiple
civilian casualties, including among children, first responders, and health personnel. That's
what local authorities are telling us. Meanwhile, attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine
over the weekend caused scores of civilian casualties and damage to homes in civilian infrastructure.
Again, that's what authorities and humanitarian workers are telling us. Miss In
the Kharkiv region, aid organizations have registered nearly eight five hundred people of the
Transit Center in Kharkiv City, where they are now receiving humanitarian assistants including food,
clothes, hygiene items, and health services. Aid workers are also providing
support in other parts of Ukraine that are impacted by the hostilities. And this
morning, the High Representative for Disarmament Izumi Nakamitsu, briefed the Security Council and
an open meeting on threats to international peace and security. She said that over
the last months, transfer of arms and ammunitions to the Ukrainian Armed Forces have
continued. On the other side, they've own also been reports of states transferring
or planning to transfer weapons to the Russian Armed Forces and that these weapons have
been used in Ukraine. She warned that the large scale influx of arms and
ammunition to any armed conflict raises significant concerns for peace and security, including as
a result of diversion and proliferation even after the conflict has ended. And just
to flag that this afternoon there will be an open meeting the Security Council on
the situation in Rafa. They will be brief members will be brief by the
Special Coordinator towards Venislan. He will do that via video conference and also by
ocha's Director of Operations and Advocacy, Adam Wasornu. We will try to get
and share those remarks beforehand with you and on me and more. I can
tell you that we're continuing to follow very closely the situation in Rakkin State,
which is worsening the vulnerabilities of all community in one of the country's poorest regions.
Our team on the ground is deeply alarmed by the latest reports of further
escalating violence and destruction taking place in Bhutidong and Mongodau townships in the capital of
Rakhain State. That is the town of Sitway. That town also remains concerning.
The situation in that town also remains concerning with reports of food shortages,
unavailability of cash, soaring market prices, water scarcity, and the spread of
water borne diseases. Humanitarian assistance and essential services have been heavily interrupted across the
States over the weekend. The High commission for Refugee Felippo Grandi and the High
Commissioner for Human Rights Vulcar Turk both called on all parties to pause the fighting,
protect civilians and allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access. They also appeal to
neighboring countries to extend protection and to allow safe access to refugees fleeing their lot
for their lives. Call on military and political leaders, as well as community
influencers to do their part to de escalate and diffuse attempts to reignite intercommunal tensions,
particularly between ethnic Rakine and Rohinga, and to avoid the repetition of past
human rights atrocities that we have seen in Rakine State. And some good news
from our peacekeeping mission in Abbie Peacekeepers our peacekeeping colleagues are telling us that over
the weekend, the Angok Dinka and the Missiraea communities signed an agreement on a
post migration at a post migration conference in central Abbie to foster peaceful farming and
peaceful farming and grazing and improve intercommunal communal relations. The gathering was a follow
on to the successful pre migration conference held in Noung, which is located west
of Abier in December of last year, and follows a welcome decline in clashes
between the two communities during the migration season. More than an undred and forty
community leaders and members from both communities, including forty one women, attended the
four day conference, facilitated by the UN Peacekeeping Mission and other UN and non
UN organizations. We have a new resident coordinator to share with you. The
Secretary Generals of Porte Cristelle Units of Lebanon as the UN Resident Coordinator in Guinea.
With the host government's approval, she started today. Ms Unis brings more
than twenty years of experience in humanitarian, human rights and development work in international
organizations as well as academia. She previously serves as Director of Human Rights and
Humanitarian Policy Concentration at Columbia's Universities Graduate School of International Public Affairs in New York.
Her work experience has been in Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Bosnia, the Middle East, lots more online.
We congratulate her big international day today with a bit of a buzz in the
air, may say so a bees. It is the International the World Day
of Bees. These and other pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds, have a
fundamental role to play in the survival of our ecosystem. Unfortunately, they are
increasingly under threat from activities by US humans. We are the culprits as usual,
dam sole me, thank you, SEV. A couple questions, but
first you mentioned RAFA and military activity there. Can you give a little more
detail on the extent of the operations that are happening in Rafa now? Is
it ground troops, is it constant fighting? Is it just bombardment? Is
it back and forth? Listen, the operations are ongoing in different in different
forms. They don't seem that limited to us. People are forced to flee,
to seek safety, to seek shelter in a This has been a constant,
especially in the last in the last months, where they're seeking safety where
nowhere is safe, and then they're being then they're being told to move again.
It's having a disastrous impact obviously, on the civilians. It's having an
extremely complicated impact on our humanitarian operations. I mean, nothing has come through
RAFA, So would you call it a full scale invasion. It's I can't
it's not for me to qualify it, but it's it's these military activities are
ongoing. On the International Criminal Court, I know it is not a United
Nations body, and however it has been criticized of late of being political not
impartial. I'm wondering if the Secretary General has faith in the neutrality of the
International Criminal Court and what it does, and how can you characterize his feelings
about it in its rule And therefore, as you said in your preamble,
it is a separate organization from the United Nations. I mean, we have
an agreement on how to we operate with each other, and that's a public
document that was issued back in twenty thirteen. The SG is obviously aware of
the request by the prosecutor to a pre trial chamber for the issuance of warrant,
but they're separate institutions. He has no voice in how the court is
run, on how the prosecutor does his job, so it's not for him
to comment on it. Does he welcome the referral. Does he have any
reaction to it at all, He's a air of it. Yes. Has
the Secretary General had any contact or phone calls with any Iranian officials after the
helicopter crash. Yes, he spoke to the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republics
of Iran this morning to express the feelings that are in the its condolences,
to express the feelings that are in the in the statement. That's that's the
Secret General concerned this would impact the the stability of the region. There.
Look, I think that's that's the questions for analysts and journalists such as yourself.
I mean we've been informed that, uh, there have been successors have
been named in accordance with with the constitution. So I'll leave it leave it
at that. Another separate issue, China's Thailand region was seeking for participate in
the WHA. Can you remind us what's the position of the UN on this
issue. Well, it's up for the members of the World Health Assembly to
decide for themselves. As you know, the World Health Organization is a specialized
agency. It is a it is a It has its own governing body,
which is the World Health Assembly, so Secretary generalists know say on how they
works for ourselves on the Secretariat end, our policy towards China is guided by
the relevant General Assembly resolutions that you know well, Miriam. Thanks Steph.
A question about Rosemary de Carlo's trip to Afghanistan. Can you show us more
information on that trip and what has been discussed in the meetings, because there
are some statements coming out from the Talibans on the factor authorities that's saying that
they should be recognized as the solo presentatives of Afghanistan in order for them to
participate in the third Doha meeting with the Special Representative. Don't have any readouts
of her meetings, but I will try to get you something or what is
it the purpose of the trip? Do you have that? I don't have
anything for you at this point, but I'll try to get you something.
Suicide. Yeah, please if you can send us something on that and also
on the Special Envoy for Afghanistan and the process of picking someone. Has the
Secretary General decided? Is he in a rush because a third Doha meeting is
coming up? No updates Strike two on my end. I apologize Alan,
Thanks Stevan. On May twenty. In twenty nineteen, Vladimir Zelenski became a
president. So according to the Constitution of the Ukraine, today is the last
day of his five year tenure at this position. So there are no elections.
There is no any equipment from the Constitutional Core of Ukraine in this regard.
So my question is does the U n CON I mean if, if
and when Russia and Ukraine start to resume their negotiations peace negotiations, UH,
does the UN find Zolenski UH consider him reliable enough to be a signatory to
this possible document? UH? Those are internal issues to Ukraine that will need
to be dealt with through Ukrainian processes, UH. President President Zelenski continues,
I mean, is for us UH the head of state in Ukraine UH and
the person that the Secretary General speaks with when he needs to speak UH to
the Ukrainian UH leader, Thank you, Stephan. My question is about UNAMI.
You mentioned that the head of UNAMI, Miss Janine Hennis's leading cod position,
and I wonder do we know who will be the next There's a process
under way we hope to announce, to announce her successor shortly, Mike,
I don't want this question to sound harsh, That's okay. Ibrown Raci is
widely recognized as being responsible for brutal executions of thousands, possibly tens of thousands
of dissidents. He let a brutal crackdown of protesters at home women's rights went
by the wayside. What exactly is the Secretary General saddened about? Look,
we have the Secretary General, through his reports on human rights in Iran,
through the words that he has said himself, through what I've said here,
has never been shy about expressing his deep concerns about the human rights situation around,
notably on the issues of women. I mean, those words are very
clear, They're in black and white, and they stand. It does not
stop him from expressing condolences when the head of state of a member state of
this organization and a foreign minister with whom he met regularly, who was here
in New York a few weeks ago, dies in a helicopter crash, condolences,
I understand. It seems like he's personally saddened by the death. According
to the well, that's I mean, that's exactly it. But I think
those to be saddened by the death of the head of state does not mean
that he doesn't stand by what everything he said about the issue of human rights
in Iran. Second question for you, there have been a lot of discussions
here lately about the statistics about fatalities and casualties in Gaza, back and forth.
When all is said and done, does the UN have any intention,
any mechanism of separating civilian casualties from combatant casualties in Gaza. We've been very
clear as to the source of the data that we are sharing with you,
and I think we've always been transparent on that. In conflict zones, when
we're able to physically verify the number of debts or have direct access, we
do so, and we we we we disgreg thank you excuse this non native
English speaker, inasmuch as we we can. For the obvious reason that there
is conflict still going on in Gaza, we're not able uh to do that.
But I think we're very transparent on the numbers UH that we use.
Have you has the UN asked for those those numbers, Those numbers are just
not being are not being shared, Stefano, Thank you, Thank you,
Stefan. One is a follow up on Raisi. President raise it that when
was exactly the last time that the Secretary General had the contact with the President
of Iran, specifically on what you were saying before, like you know,
the human rights and especially the right last time I think the last time he
saw him, which I can check the dates, but I tell you those
issues have been regularly raised. You should also take the time if you're interested
on issues of human rights in Iran and reading the Secretary Journal's report of human
Rights, which I think is extremely extremely clear and direct. So in one
phrase, how would you how the Secretary General will have considered what I would
have said to the President of Iran about the situation of human rights and especially
he's raised I mean read the readouts that we issue. I mean they are
but you can he has raised his concerns repeatedly in meeting with Iranian officials on
the issue of human rights. We still have the head of state and a
foreign minister. So I said that the Secretary General has regularly met with right,
regularly spoken to died killed in a helicopter crash. I think the Secretary
General's sentiments is expressed or human, but that's the Secretary General, I hope.
Okay, then I have another question that he used to do with the
I c C. That to clarify it, I mean as to still has
to be accepted this warrant. By that, I think that's you. You
need to look at the procedures. But let's say, if this is going
to going far, does the the Secretary General, Let's say we'll meet with
the Prime Minister of Israel if the on Israel. It's a hypothetical question.
Let me finish is a hypothetical question, because no war have been Other people
have been issued warrants, and there is a UN document which outlines exactly what
UN officials can do, and it's a public document. We're happy to share
with you given it's a public document. In our guidelines, they set out
policy on the contacts between you AN officials and persons who are subject of arrest,
warrants or summonses from the ICC. In essence, contacts between UN officials
and such individuals should be limited to those which are strictly required for carrying out
essential un mandated activities. So there's it's not other people have been issued ICC
warrants. There is a policy which we follow on what to do. Not
just yet, monsieur, then, Madam, thank you Step follow up on
the ICC application for arrest warrants for Hamazon Israeli leaders. Does this sexually generally
perceive this as an indictment or it's a separate stage from a formal indictment by
the court. Yes, I mean it's because it's not on the issue of
the procedures of the ICC. Talk to the ICC, right, But I'm
not a lawyer. I don't pretend to be one, but I think even
I know there's a difference between issuing a warrant and an indictment. Linda,
thank you Step. This is in regard to Andre I was just wondering if
you could give us a little update in terms of UNRES principal role these days
activities in Gaza given the conflict, and is there any schooling going on?
How many people are staying at the facilities that kind of I don't have the
good question. I can get an update on the number of uh of of
people staying that hy is sheltering in some of its uh some of the places,
which is it's huge, and who is trying to do whatever it can
to alleviate the suffering of the civilians in Gaza. Schooling as it was done
before is non existent, right. Uh, they are trying to help children
overcome the trauma that they're suffering every day. It's uh opportunistic assistance. It's
haphazard. Uh and it's not sustainable because of the ongoing conflict. In terms
of microphone a little closer, please and thank you. In terms of aid
delivery, can you just clarify what is Undra's role. What are they doing
now in terms of physically delivering. I mean they're they're they're they're helping feed
people, They're trying, they're helping, they're providing healthcare. They're trying to
fulfill their mandate in the middle of a conflict, which ain't easy. Madam.
Thanks Stefan. I have a question on it. The first contingent of
Kenyan policemen are expected this week in Haiti. Do you have an update for
us on the financing of the mission, and there were some issues about the
Kenyan policemen being paid upfront. I mean, the only thing I can give
you, which may have been given to you on Friday, is that we
have twenty one million dollars deposited in the trust fund. And I feel your
pain, I feel your frustration about trying to get answers. But we're not
managing this mission. And I know it's not easy for you to figure out
who to call. The only person I can tell you not to call is
because we You have to speak to the Haitians, speak to the Kenyons,
speak to the US. But we are not We are not involved in the
in the minutia of the logistics here. All right, you can you can
call me if it's not about Haiti. Yeah. On the ICC, if
an arrest warrant is issued, can you spell out how that works for the
person if they want to come to the United Nations for a visit, given
that the United States isn't a party to the ic C, But technically what
what would that person be welcome here? Would that person be arrested here?
What would how would do you respond? It's uh at this point, it's
it's a question I can't answer with full certainty. Obviously, as you said,
it would require visa issue for wherever that person is going. Uh,
And for us in terms of our own relations with anyone indicted by the ICC,
it has to be uh necessary in the fulfillment of our mandate. Deji
and then Madam, two questions. First, does the Sexual General feel disappointed
that both President Olynski and President Putin rejected a possible proposed ceisfire during Olympics.
We we we want to see an end to this conflict in line with everything
that we've always UH said, General Assembly, territorial integrity, et cetera.
We very much hope that an end to this conflict can be can be found
and we've always UH supported UH an Olympic truce. And one more question on
the ICC application. Just now, President Biden said that the application is outrageous.
I mean a year ago, President Biden said, Isaia's a decision on
putting was justified and make a very strong point, does the Secretary General believe
it's a pure double standard? And would that be the double standard from the
most powerful country in the world would lead to the impunity that the Secret General
caught many times. We are as I've set to you, I think a
number of time, Disgi, I'm not here to provide color commentary on what
other people said. What I do believe is that the principles of international law
and the Secretary of General I think has been very clear on that these principles
of international law always need to be applied equally across the board, Margaret Bashir.
So when you say equally across the board, there's been a lot of
outcry about the State of Israel being put on the same plane as Hamas,
which some countries view as a terrorist group. They're saying it's a false equivalency
because they're both being brought up in this request. I'm not going to comment
on the details of what the prosecutor put forward. For our part, we
have been very clear in condemning violations of international law from wherever they come,
whether those comes from member states or from from armed groups. And do you
have any reaction to legislators in this country threatening to sanction the prosecutor over these
requires. We've seen a lot of rhetoric. I'm not going to get into
it, Stephan, knowing that we'll go to the screen. After all,
he has suffered. That's the Secretary General feel vindicated by the warrant against the
Tayau after the criticism criticized that he had suffered from the beginning. The Secretary
General, every Secretary General suffered from a lot of criticism from day one to
the last day. Abdelhmid, thank you, Stephan. I have a few
questions too. I start with the floating dock of the Americans they built on
the Gaza shores. Can you update us with the activity of this, I
mean, there is nothing new. There's nothing new today. I think Fahan
updated you over the Friday night and over the weekend, but there were no
There was no the World Food Programs as the lead on the logistics cluster did
not take take in any trucks today. My second question, you mentioned about
the displacement, about nine hundred thousand had been displaced. For a person of
the people of Gaza, they're being displaced second wise three times, some of
them six times. Displacement is illegal and international law, especially if there is
no safe place to go, as you always mentioned, then why you don't
call it as it is it's a genocide and war and not talking about just
the symptoms, but rather give it the exact name of what's happening in Gaza.
Abdelhamid, I understand your frustration. I think we've been very clear and
describing the situation, and I think you know very well our answer on the
issue of genocide. Uhila question go ahead on the ICC. I mean there
were two Israelis were involved. I mean they mentioned by name the Prime Minister
and the Defense Minister on the other side, the three where or to be
indicted? Maybe does that make it a mo ockerry of the i c C
when when all the crimes is very committed in Gaza and being in the ICE.
I think with respect, you need to ask that question of Kareem Khan,
the prosecutor, Nobile and then Dennis. No Bill, Dennis, when
you fill the gap, Okay, go ahead, Nobil, go ahead,
Yeah, on i c C. On the ic C. Also, are
you concerned that the prosecutor may have difficulties in getting a visa maybe to visit
the U N headquarters. Uh? Do you have a position on his ability
to attend meetings in New York and the headquarters? Well, I you know
that that's a hypothet, but I can tell you that we've always called on
any members state that is host to a UN meeting or to UN headquarters to
facilitate the travels of anyone who is coming to attend a meeting, either at
headquarters or at a UN sponsor conference. And that is our principal position and
not going to change. Dennis, just wanting to have an update. Does
Secretary General plans to go to Ukraine Peace Conference in Switzerland. It's no update
for you on who would represent the UN at that conference. As soon as
I have something, I will share that with you. Do you want to
stand between me and lunch? It's a dangerous place to place yourself between a
Frenchman and his lunch ahead. But did you just say that the UN would
request to allow someone with a warrant with an ICC. Weren't even if they
had a warrant you would request Note he was talking about he was talking about
if I understood Nebil's question about Kareem Khan about threats against people from the ICC
not being delivered. Jesus okay. But also on the pier in the trucks
you said there was no new trucks today. Does that include the weekend as
well? There were trucks on Friday and Saturday and nothing on Sunday and nothing
today. And I think Mike has a question, what are you having for
lunch? I brought my lunch from home, curry chicken tever. On that
note, goodbye. The nine thousand, six hundred and twenty ninth committing of
a Discidity Council is called towards at the outset of the meeting, I should
like, at the request of the delegations of the Russian Federation, China and
Algeria, and on behalf of the members of the Security Council, to ask
that all those present now stand and join in observing a minute of silence in
remembrance of the loss of life in my head after crash of the present of
the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraim Rayisi, the Minus of Foreign Affairs of
the Islamic Republic of Iran or s amirab dolla Ian and all passengers, and
to present its condolences and sympathy to their families and the people of the Islamic
Republic of Iran. I thank you. The provisional agenda for this meeting is
threat to international peace and security. The agenda is adopted in accordance with the
Rule thirty seven of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure. I invite the Representative
of Ukraine to participate in this meeting. It is so decided in accordance with
the Rule thirty nine of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure. I invited the
following briefers to participate in this meeting, Zumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament
Affairs, and Miss Margaret Kimberly, Activist and the civil Representative Civil Society Representative.
It is so decided the Security Council will now begin it's consideration of Item
two of the agenda, and now give the floor for Miss Izumi Nakamitsu.
Thank you, Mister President, Mister President, Distinguished Members of the Security Council,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Before I start, I like to extend
my conces to the families of and the people of Iran following the passing of
President Ibrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hussein Amir abdu Lahin and other passengers in a
tragic helicopter crush yesterday. Almost twenty seven months have passed since the Russian Federation
launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in violation of the Yuan chart. That
represents over eight hundred days of death, destruction, widespread devastation and immense suffering
for the Ukrainian people. Regretably, the security situation continues to deteriorate. The
escalating attacks on Ukrainian villages, towns and cities, including in particular in the
Kharkiv region, have led to more civilian deaths and injuries, as well as
massively st of civilian infrastructure. Strikes have also been reported inside the Russian Federation,
reportedly also resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. They continued
and intensified attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are unacceptable. All parties to any
armed conflict have an obligation to protect civilians in armed conflict and to ensure compliance
with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law. Let me say it again,
Deliberate and direct attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and indiscriminate attacks, including
disproportional attacks, are prohibited under international humanitarian law. All such attacks must stop
immediately. Attention it will also be given to the environmental damage as as well
as the impact on human health and ecosystems resulting from the use of weapons.
Turning now to the subject of this briefing. Over the last months, the
provision of military assistance and transfers of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces
have continued. Much of the information from governments about their transfers of weapon systems
and ammunitions to Ukraine is available through open sources. These transfers have reportedly included
heavy conventional weapons such as battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, combat aircraft,
helicopters, large caliber arterior systems, missile systems, and uncrewed combat aerial vehicles,
as well as remotely operated munitions, small arms and light weapons and their
ammunition. There have also been reports of states transferring or planning to transfer weapons
such as uncrude area vehicles, ballistic missiles and ammunition to the Russian Armed Forces,
and that these weapons have been used in Ukraine. I ratreate that any
transfer of weapons and ammunition must take place within the applicable international legal framework,
including of course, relevant Security Council resolutions. Reports related to the transfer and
use of anti personnel minds and cluss ammunitions in Ukraine are deeply concerning. There
must be an immediate end to the use of these inherently indiscriminate weapons, which
have a devastating and long lasting humanitarian impact on civilians. Ukraine is now one
of the world's most heavily mined contaminated countries, and it will require decades of
clearance efforts with the support of international community to make sure communities are safe from
the threat of minds. Mister President, the large scale influx of arms and
ammunition into any armed conflict raises significant concerns for peace and security, including as
a result of diversion and proliferation even after the conflict has ended. Importing,
transit, producing, and exporting states must act responsibly at every step along the
arms and ammunition transfer chain to prevent diversion, iniciit trafficking, and misuse.
Pre transfer risk assessments, marking and record keeping practices, as well as tracing
capabilities are of utmost importance to prevent a diversion of conventional arms and regulate the
international arms traite. States have established a number of arms controlled treaties and instruments.
This includes the Arm Straight Treaty, the Firearms Protocol, the Program of
Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and its International Tracing Instrument, and the
Global Framework for Through Life Conventional Ammunition Management, Universal Participation indevelopment treaties, as
well as full and effective implementation of these treaties and instruments must remain a priority,
Mister President. From twenty fourth of February twenty twenty two to sixteenth of
May twenty twenty four, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights has verified that conflict related diamonds as killed at least eleven seventeen civilians and
injured twenty one four hundred and forty five in Ukraine. It is very concerning
that the number of injured civilians has increased significantly for the second month in Row.
As in past months, the vast majority of civilian casualties are a result
of the use of exclusive weapons with wide area effect in populated areas. The
Sector General has consistently and unequiotically urged all sizes to avoid the use of explosive
weapons in populated areas, and such use is highly likely to result in an
indiscriminate, direct and long term harm and to ultimately take combat out of urban
areas altogether. I take this opportunity to refer to the Political Declaration on Strength
Thing the Protection of Civilians from the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive
weapons in populated Areas, adopted in November of twenty twenty two. Regretably,
the use of armed uncrude area vehicles and missiles continues to cause civilian deaths and
injuries, as well as damage to civilian infrastructure. Just like any other weapons
or weapons systems, armed uncrude aerial vehicles and missiles must not be used in
a manner inconsistent with international humanity law. Mister President, distinguished Members of the
Security Council, I wish to retreate the United Nations commitment to support all meaningful
efforts to bring a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, guided by the United
Nations Charter and international law, including relevant General Assembly resolutions. It is time
to put an end to this war. I thank you very much for your
attention. I thank Miss Nakamisu for our important briefing. I now give the
floor to Miss Margaret Kimberly. Thank you very much, Mister President. Thank
you all for this opportunity to address the Security Council and to provide a briefing
on the issue of peace as it relates to Ukraine and its connections with people
in this country and all over the world. As a journalist, executive editor
of Black Agenda Report, and a member of the Black Alliance for Peace and
the United National Anti War Coalition, and as a citizen of the United States,
the nation taking a lead role in continuing the crisis. I'm eager to
speak to this issue. As of now, the US has allocated nearly one
hundred seventy five billion dollars for the Ukrainian war effort and to support the workings
of Ukraine's civilian government. For the last two years, we've seen a terrible
war which would end if this country's and if this country and others would stop
providing arms and instead seek peace. There were opportunities for that to happen in
March and April of twenty twenty two, when the government of Turkia hosted peace
talks between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. The possibility of peace was lost when
my country and others subverted these talks by promising the government of Ukraine that it
would receive an endless supply of weapons with which to achieve a military victory.
Not only has that victory been elusive, but thousands of Ukrainians, the people
this country claims to care so much about, have lost their lives, and
of course many Russians have also perished. The goal should be for the death
toll to end for both nations. We don't have to guess why this huge
sum of money has been spent. We need only recall what the President of
the United States and his foreign policy team have said publicly. The Secretary of
Defense famously said in a rare moment of candor, that the US wanted to
quote see Russia weakened unquote. This is a dangerous goal for the United States
to have at all. The world needs cooperation. It's the only way to
avoid escalation and disastrous outcomes between the major powers. The US shouldn't be attempting
to weaken any nation, but should be continuously engaged in finding ways to prevent
and to end conflict. Not only is the Secretary's confession dangerous, but it
has surely failed. President Biden himself said that US imposed sanctions against Russia would
quote turn the ruble to rubble unquote. No such thing has happened, and
other nations have suffered economically from the futile effort to keep Russian oil off of
world markets. Global South nations in particular, were most impacted by what turned
out to be a failed effort. More developed nations, those in Europe,
have been deprived of affordable gas supplies they reliably received from Russia for decades.
There have been other serious consequences, and some of them have fallen on people
in this country. The one most responsible for continuing the crisis. Project Ukraine,
as it is called, is a bipartisan effort, with both Republicans and
Democrats supporting the continued infusion of huge sums of money to the defense industry,
the military industrial complex, and to projects to dubious projects in Ukraine itself.
This funding is not just spent on the military, but is literally supplying many
domestic government functions within that country. Most Americans are unaware, for example,
that small businesses in Ukraine are being supported with their public funds, with at
least twenty five billion dollars in non military aid being spent. It isn't as
if people in this country don't need help. Money for weapons continues thanks to
consensus among the political class, While needy people here are being removed from the
Medicaid program, which pays for health care for low income people, as well
as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program. Students take on thousands of dollars in debt
to attend universities. The same administration, which is committed to spending money on
weapons, has never presented a plan to help the estimated half million people in
the US who are unhoused. There are constant calls to cut or end these
programs altogether, but the funding stream for war remains untouched. Democracy itself is
in crisis because of these endless conflict conflicts. War is not the only indicator
of violence in the world, and peace is not just the absence of conflict.
War making leads to a miseration, which is antithetical to the concept of
peace. The US public do not have the unanimity of opinion on Ukraine that
one would expect, considering that billions of dollars have been allocated. Even those
who say they support this effort also say they would like to see negotiations too.
A recent poll indicated that seventy one percent of people in this country would
like to see a negotiated settlement instead of ongoing conflict. But the millions of
Americans who want an end to the conflict have been deprived of the representation we
are supposed to have. Not only does the administration refuse to reconsider its position,
but there are reports that President Biden wants to prevent future presidents from playing
a different role. According to President Zelenski, he's working with the US and
other NATO nations on a ten year plan to provide weapons. Joe Biden can
only serve for a maximum of four and a half more years, meaning that
he wants to make a commitment that a future president cannot change, and so
doing, he invalidates the concerns of voters in this country and of the people
who are supposed to represent them. As a citizen of the United States,
I'm shocked by the lengths this country will go to in order to pursue a
dangerous plan that's doomed to fail. The most recent tranch of US weapons funding
is dependent upon Ukraine mobilizing men. Approximately five hundred thousand several million Ukrainians fled
to nearby states in twenty twenty two, but now they are told they cannot
renew their passports abroad. They must return to Ukraine, where we see videos
of men literally being press ganged into service, dragged off the street, and
forced to join the military. The freedom that is allegedly being fought for seems
to require a lack of freedom for Ukrainians who face the risk of death in
the battlefield. This corruption requires a steady stream of indoctrination and propaganda to keep
the US policy population from asking questions are actively opposing the war. I suppose
that is why Secretary of State Anthony Blincoln thought it wise to perform with the
Ukrainian band on his last visit to Kiev. Not only that, but neither
the Secretary nor his handlers were aware that the song he performed, Rockin' in
the Free World, is a lament about poverty and hopelessness in a supposedly free
world which isn't truly free. The administration is so divorced from reality they thought
it wise for Secretary Blincoln to play this song as men are rounded up to
be cannon fodder. I want to add that this conflict didn't begin in February
twenty twenty two. It began years earlier with the US plan to have Ukraine
join NATO. In two thousand and eight, William Burns, then and US
Ambassador to Russia, revealed in a cable known to US because of the work
of Wikiliks, that doing so would cross a Russian red line and potentially lead
to quote a major split involving violence or at worst civil war unquote. As
we all know, Wikilik's publisher, Julian nissanj languishes in a UK prison facing
extradition to the country that has made an example of him because he has revealed
secrets such as this cable. I retrate that there have been peace proposals in
the past two years, with the most recent effort being made by the People's
Republic of China, which has developed a comprehensive twelve point plan that could mean
the end of destruction and suffering if it's given serious consideration. Lastly, I
would make a plea to the United Nations to use its power to investigate a
catastrophic event that is tied to the Ukraine conflict. On September twenty six,
twenty twenty two, the North Stream pipelines were destroyed in an explosion which also
sent fifteen million tons of CO two into the atmosphere, thus contributing to global
warming. Investigations have been closed without conclusion, and at least one internationally known
investigative journalist has provided evidence of US involvement. Sadly, no one in a
position to investigate in this country has demanded that it is imperative that the United
Nations undertake an independent investigation of its own. This is only possible if fantasies
about domination are finally and firmly rejected. Doing so would free nations to be
honest with one another, to struggle over issues, but to resolve them without
death or expenditures of money that are better used for human needs. I thank
you all profusely for this opportunity and for the work of the Security Calcil in
upholding the United Nations Charter on behalf of the people of the world. Thank
you very much. I will now give the foot to the Representative of Ukraine.
Well, thank you, miss present. Distinguished members of the Security Council.
I express my appreciation of the briefing by High Representative Nakamitsum. I also
recognize putting Sinvoy in the permanent seat of the Soviet Union. There is nothing
remarkable about Miss Kimberley's participation in today's meeting other than her wonderful choice of Ukrainian
flag colors yellow and blue, and that is about it. We have already
highlighted the detrimental impact of such Russian propaganda shows on the credibility and entirety of
the Security Council. It is a mockery of the Council's mandate. When the
aggressor demands that the council address complains about the victim of aggression still having weapons
to defend itself. It is a mockery of common sense when the aggressor makes
such a demands such demands after opening a new front and thus significantly expanding the
area of hostilities, human suffering and destruction. The north of Kharki region,
particularly the town of Chansk, is now suffering the same fate as other hotspots
of the Russian war against My country. Settlements are being raised to the ground,
people are fleeing their homes. Those who cannot evacuate are subject subjected to
inhumane treatment by Russian soldiers. Unfortunately, there have already been reports of executions
of local residents by Russian soldiers in the northern part of the town of Ovchansk.
In particular, the Harky Prosecutor's office is investigating the murder of a disabled
person in a wheelchair near the local hospital, committed by Russian forces. This
was discovered through footage filmed by Ukrainian reconnaissance drone. On May the seventeenth,
yesterday, Russian air strikes killed twelve civilians, including a pregnant woman, in
the village of Tcherkaska, Lazava, nov Asinov and of Shradivka in the Harky
region, as Russian terrorists once again resorted to the tactics of double strike.
Two paramedics were among the victims. Russian guided aerial bombs, ballistic and cruise
missiles, shells and mines continue to destroy Ukrainian infrastructure, kill Ukrainian people,
and poison the natural environment of Ukraine. We are alarmed that Russian troops flagrantly
violate the Chemical Weapons Convention by resorting to artillery shelling with chemically hazardous substances.
In April alone, four hundred and forty four cases of use by Russia of
ammunition containing hazardous chemicals were recorded, that is seventy one cases more than in
March. We remain concerned about Russia's on going attempts to exploit the occupation of
this Uparisia NPP. As a part of its military strategy. Russia continues to
use its territory to launch drones and train drone pilots, taken advantage of the
fact that the defense forces of Ukraine cannot return fire in the one point five
five kilometer zone around the plant. Russia's obsession obsessive inclination to request Council meetings
on weapons supplies is in fact a manifestation of their desire to expand such a
no return fire zone to the entire Ukraine. For Ukraine, however, this
is a matter of survival. We are therefore grateful to our allies who continue
to support our fight. Air defense systems will help protect Ukrainian infrastructure. Fighter
Jazz will help push back the Russian aircraft that currently launch guided aerial bombs from
deep within their territory. Armor and artillery will help move the front line away
and restore normal life in the territories occupied by Russia. Ukraine will continue to
exercise its inherent right to sell defense under the Article fifty one of the UN
Charter until threats to its people and its sovereignty are removed and the Russian aggression
is stopped, Mister President. Since the beginning of the Russian aggression, illegitimacy
narratives have been the backbone of Russian propaganda to justify its aggression. In twenty
fourteen, Russia made claims about a so called koup dita in Ukraine to justify
Russia's invasion in February twenty twenty two, putting openly called for the Ukrainian Army
to topple the Ukrainian government, labeling it illegitimate to justify it's a unbillainist to
end the war. Russia keeps repeating its illegitimacy narrative like a broken record,
this time by misinterpreting or come completely ignoring the provisions of the Ukrainian Constitution and
Ukrainian laws regarding the term of authority of the President of Ukraine. Let me
clear the Russian mess and set the record straight so that there is at least
some use of these massive misuse of the Council by the Russian delegation. In
accordance with the Article one hundred three of the Constitution of Ukraine, the President
of Ukraine is elected by the citizens of Ukraine for a five year term on
the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot, something possibly
naturally known in Russia until now. Paragraph one of Articles one hundred and eight
stipulates that the President of Ukraine exercises his or her powers until the assumption of
office by the newly elected President of Ukraine. This constitutional provision enshrines the fundamental
principle of institutional continuity of presidential power. Paragraph six of Article one hundred three
stipulates that the procedure for conducting elections of the President of Ukraine is established by
law and the law in its turn is very clear. In accordance with Article
nineteen of the Law of Ukraine on the Legal Regime of marchial Law. During
martial law, it is prohibited to hold elections of the President of Ukraine as
well as parliamentary and local elections in according to with Article twenty of the Election
Code of Ukraine and i quote, in the event of martial law or state
of emergency being imposed in Ukraine or its separate territories, the election process of
national elections and all local elections held in these territories or their parts shall be
terminated from the date of entry into force of the respective decree of the President
of Ukraine and of Article eleven of the Law of Ukraine on the Legal regime
of martial law stipulates that in the event of the term of power of the
President of Ukraine expiring during a state of martial law, the President's powers are
extended until the new President of Ukraine elected after the abolition of martial law assumes
office. Marchia law in Ukraine was announced by the Decree of the President of
Ukraine on an imposition of marchial law in Ukraine of twenty four February twenty twenty
two, the day that Russia started its invasion. According to the Constitution of
Ukraine. This decree has been endorsed by the Ukrainian Parliament. It remains effective
today because Russia continues its war of attrition. The broad area of active combat,
as well as Russia's regular missile and drone strikes across the entire territory of
Ukraine make it impossible to ensure adherents to international standards and commitments on the right
of democratic elections, including proper election administration, a safe environment for campaigning,
international monitoring and voting. After determination of abolition of martial law or state of
emergency, the electoral process which has been suspended in this connection shall begin again.
The Election Code of Ukraine in visages that the decision on calling elections,
the electoral process of which was suspended or did not begin due to the imposition
of martial law or state of emergency, should be adopted by the subject of
their appointment not later than one months from the date of termination or abolition of
martial law or state of emergency. And if the law does not require a
separate decision on the appointment for holding the elections, this Central Election Commission should
announce the start of the election process no later than one months from the date
of termination or abolition or martial law or state of emergency. In November three
representatives of groups and factions of the Ukrainian Parliament, both ruling KA and opposition
met within the framework of Jean Manette Dialects for Peace and Democracy and signed conclusions
on reaching an agreement that elections will be held after the end of the war
and abolition of martial law. They also agreed to elaborate a special law regulating
these specifics of the first post war elections. This is plain and simple.
If Putting's envoy is genuinely concerned about Ukrainian elections, he should, instead of
requesting Security Council meetings, recommend his master in the Kremlin stop the aggression and
withdraw the troops from the territory of Ukraine. As you know, on May
the seventh, Russia held a ceremony to install la Dimer Puttin in office.
In this way, the Russian authorities are attempting to give the entire world and
its own citizens the illusion of legality for the nearly lifelong stay in power of
the person who has turned the Russian Federation into aggressive state and the ruling regime
into a dictatorship. During the so called March elections, the Russian Federation violated
numerous international documents that served as a foundation for the modern system of international relations,
in particular the UN Charter, the Declaration of the Principles of International Law,
the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,
the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and dozens
of UN General Assembly resolutions. The illegal organization of another so called electoral process
in the sovereign territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation parts of the
Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaparisia and his Son Regions, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
and the City of Sevastopol, accompanied by threats, blackmail and corrosion of millions
of Ukrainian citizens who live in the temporarily occupied territories or were forcibly relocated to
the territory of the Russian Federation, constituted a brutal violation of the generally recognized
norms and principles of international law. Despite warnings from authoritative international institutions, the
Russian Federation's actions once again demonstrated that its leadership did not recognize its responsibility and
is unwilling to end the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full scale aggression against Ukraine,
which has lasted more than two years and resulted in numerous human cash and
destruction. The Kremlin regime, through propaganda and manipulation, uses voter participation and
voting results to justify its military invasion of Ukraine and aggressive policies towards other countries.
Based on the foregoing and the international criminal course active ares warrant for Vladimir
Putin, it is a fact that there is no legal basis for recognizing him
as a democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation. Recent resolution of
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe dated April seventeenth and the European Parliament
dated April twenty five confirm the ineligibility of holding so called elections in Ukraine's temporarily
occupied territories, the undemocratic nature in Russia's in Russia itself, and in fact
refute the legitimacy of their results. We call on foreign countries, international organizations,
and the public to follow suit by not recognizing the results of these pseudo
elections or Russian dictator who they are put in as a legitimate president, to
resist the demolition of the system of the rule of law and universally recognized democratic
values, as well as to continue effectively supporting Ukraine in this fight against Russian
aggression, which pooses a threat to European and world security, peace and stability.
Until such steps are taking, strong international solidarity remains the most effective response
to both Russian aggression and propaganda. Solidarity with Ukraine saves the lives of Ukrainian
soldiers and civilians. It also undermines the aggressor's potential to spread violence to other
countries. Finally, solidary with Ukraine will bolster out our efforts to achieve a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace on the basis of the UN Charter. And
I think, I think the representative of Ukraine for they are important Statementsian Federation,
Russian Federation. I'll ask for the floor to make a further statement,
and I grantee, thank you, mister President. I am not going to
lengthen our discussion, but I just want to illustrate the reliability of the information
that the representative of the ky regime has said, only seventeen percent, according
to the recent survey of the Ukrainian population, believes in the legitimacy of their
presidency. In particular, the Ukrainian government has not taken this issue to the
Constitutional Court because it is worried it's not going to get the response that it
wants. The irrespective of the legitimacy of the illegitimacy of missus Olenski has no
impact whatsoever anyway on our special military operation. Thank you, I think the
representative of the Russian Federation for their statements. There are no more names inscribed
on the list of speakers. That means the show has been produced by Depictions
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