YouSaid · the spoken record

Kinnunen

lines on the record
8
first
2022-02-17
most recent
2022-02-17
sittings or episodes
1
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un-security-council

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  1. “They could, for example, give us an opportunity to have substantial discussions on certain concrete draft laws at the very heart of the Minsk agreements. Finally, the TCG has now met in video format in online meetings for almost two years. Meetings in video format lack drive and confidentiality. For several reasons, they do not offer possibilities for genuine negotiations and interaction. My goal remains to return to the face-to-face meetings of our unique platform, which brings together Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE, as well as representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”

    2022-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8968 (2022) · source

  2. “While I note that the Duma resolution does not reflect the official line of the Government, it is important to emphasize that all participants need to remain committed to the goal of restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty over the totality of its territory. At the same time, the bigger picture — the unprecedented international focus on Ukraine and the region — should be used as an opportunity to unblock the work of the TCG. I am grateful for the recent high- level contacts between the leaders of the Normandy Four, as well as the two meetings of the Normandy Four political advisers and, for example, the discussions of the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Kyiv and Moscow during the past days. These all could give new impetus to unblocking the TCG’s work.”

    2022-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8968 (2022) · source

  3. “A recent visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency to the non-Government controlled area shows that when there is a will on all sides, agreeing is possible. But clearly not enough progress has been made. One reason for this is State-related issues, which may from the outside appear procedural, but are actually part of the core substance. During this week, the State Duma of the Russian Federation approved a resolution calling upon the Russian President to recognize the independence of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This has raised questions and internal discussion within the TCG.”

    2022-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8968 (2022) · source

  4. “Conflict-affected areas with ongoing military activity have sadly become part of everyday life for countless Ukrainian citizens. In late December 2021, two months ago, participants in the discussions of the Trilateral Contact Group fully agreed to adhere to the ceasefire agreement of July 2020. This New Year’s commitment two months ago did not hold up well enough. However, on the positive side, for a one-month period following the commitment, there were 70 per cent fewer ceasefire violations than there had been the month before. This once again indicates that if there is political will, it is possible not to use arms and possible not to fire. Secondly, there have been small positive steps with our work, such as the creation of an environmental expert group.”

    2022-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8968 (2022) · source

  5. “A concrete, fresh example of a potentially provocative situation is the alleged shelling that occurred this morning in Luhansk region, close to the contact line. It is important to try to establish the facts in a swift manner and avoid escalation. A participant to the discussions of the TCG has requested an extraordinary meeting of the TCG. The armed conflict related to eastern Ukraine is eight years old, as we heard from the Under-Secretary- General. The continuing conflict has resulted in more than 14,000 victims and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons and refugees. Civilian crossings of the contact line have dropped by 95 per cent since the closing of checkpoints two years ago, resulting in additional civilian suffering and hardship.”

    2022-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8968 (2022) · source

  6. “Furthermore, in my experience, it is not possible or appropriate to single out only one party for being responsible for that. Everyone involved in the discussions of the Trilateral Contact Group needs to bear their responsibility for carrying out what has been agreed. We need more flexible positions and readiness to compromise. The security situation along the 480-kilometre contact line that separates the Government-controlled area from the non-Government-controlled area of eastern Ukraine is one of the key focuses of the work of the TCG. In the current situation, particularly with reference to the bigger context, it is important to continue to also stay calm along the contact line. Provocations are to be avoided. At the end of the day, no one would benefit from new military activities.”

    2022-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8968 (2022) · source

  7. “Consequently, as of now, it is not yet possible to resolve the conflict related to eastern Ukraine within the TCG. We need to continue our work. At the same time, it is important to note that all the elements of the three Minsk agreements are relevant and need to be addressed. Those agreements — the Minsk protocol, the Minsk memorandum and the Minsk package of measures — continue to form the basis of our work. It is crucial that all sides continue to remain committed. It is popular to accuse one or another participant to the discussions of violating the Minsk agreements or not wanting to implement those agreements. In that regard, my message would suggest caution. The fact is that none of the elements of the Minsk agreements have been implemented or, at least, fully implemented.”

    2022-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8968 (2022) · source

  8. “Mr. Kinnunen: The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) supports the implementation of the settlement provided by the Minsk agreements. However, in times such as these it is impossible to address the Donbas issue without paying attention to the bigger context, which is the tense security situation around Ukraine and in the region, as well as intensive, high-level diplomacy. Arguably, that bigger context has a strong interlinkage with the work of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG). That argument is based on views according to which finding a solution to the main task of the TCG, namely, the implementation of the Minsk agreements, could help in solving many of the issues of the bigger picture. However, currently, the positions of the participants to the discussions of the TCG are too far from each other.”

    2022-02-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8968 (2022) · source