The situation in Ukraine

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

The Dominican Republic wishes to express its thanks for the convening of this special meeting and, at the same time, to state in this multilateral forum, as we have already done in others, our commitment to respect for the norms of international law, respect for the borders established between States, sovereignty and the freedom of peoples. We always advocate peaceful coexistence among nations and solidarity among them.

Our foreign policy has focused on working to achieve the peaceful settlement of disputes and on promoting an international order that guarantees respect for the principles and values that have given our Hemisphere, and a large part of humanity, peace, stability and progress.

The situation in Ukraine presents grave threats to the balance of regional and global security. By its unilateral recognition as independent States of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are an integral part of the territory of Ukraine, and then by the unjustified aggression under way since yesterday, Russia has violated basic principles of international law: respect for the territorial integrity of States, the commitment to settle disputes by peaceful means and to refrain from the threat or use of force, and respect for political independence and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other States. This aggression must meet with collective condemnation and must set in motion among us the mechanisms of coordination to pursue peace in Europe and to preserve the stability of our Hemisphere, long recognized as an area without wars.

Mr. Chair, we know that among the immediate effects will be not only destruction and death but also forced displacement, the disruption of markets and economic losses, especially in the energy sector and in food supply chains. We stand on the brink of another humanitarian tragedy of epic proportions. Humanity is already going through difficult times because of the COVID-19 pandemic; this unnecessary armed confrontation will set us back even further.

Distinguished colleagues, this is the moment to rise to the occasion and to steer the conversations toward peace. This Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) has an opportunity to express unity, solidarity and cohesion by shaping decisions to respond to this crisis and its effects. In doing so we send a clear and unequivocal message of our commitment to defend what we believe in. It is in that light that our country makes a vehement call for a halt to the hostilities. It is time, as a matter of urgency, to give priority to dialogue and diplomatic negotiation.

We call for the aggression to stop, for the recent recognitions of independence to be revoked, for a return to the Minsk Agreements and for an end to all interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine, especially those pronouncements that inflame base passions or incite recourse to further violence.

As we said at the General Assembly of the United Nations in recent days, the Dominican Republic does not accept that international law should be violated or that the international order, based on freely accepted rules, should be broken. In a scenario of violence and acts of force there would be no victor. We would all lose, whether we are large States or small.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.