Ukraine, 2008

It is a great

honour for me to address the world community: the

United Nations and its biggest representative body, the

General Assembly.

Together with all other Member States, I am

grateful to the Macedonian representative

Mr. Srgjan Kerim for his effective work as President of

the Assembly at its last session.

I congratulate Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann

of Nicaragua on his election as President of the

General Assembly at its sixty-third session. I wish him

every success at this critical time.

I am confident that we all have the same feeling.

Empty words and general discussions have had their

day. We feel a cool wind in international relations that

complicates and tempers mutual responsibilities. The

difference in temperature and pressure leads to a

hurricane. Atmospheric changes in worldwide politics

have comparable effects.

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The great illusion of power becomes today’s

ultimate weakness and the giant vehicle of ideals and

shaping forces. The principal challenge before us lies

in the neglect and undermining of the standards of

international law and foreign affairs.

We see a trend towards the demolition of the

global system, whose cornerstone is the unflagging

international will and respect for the sovereignty,

territorial integrity and established boundaries of

States.

Ukraine has the right to speak these words. We

were among the founders of the United Nations and

one of the co-authors of its Charter.

We are a nation that underwent fatal trials and

regained a commonwealth in a legitimate and

recognized way. The representatives of dozens of

States that share such a fate with us are here in this

room.

The latest events in the Caucasus are of the

utmost concern to us. I express condolences for the

tragedy suffered by each human being and each family

regardless of race or allegiance — Georgians,

Ossetians and Russians. Suffering does not

discriminate among peoples. Each person has dignity

and the ability to recognize truth, hypocrisy, deliberate

aggression, manipulation of public opinion and candid

support for separatism.

Ukraine condemns all acts of aggression and use

of force that occurred in the region. Ukraine vigorously

denounces violation of the territorial integrity and

inviolability of the Georgian frontiers and the armed

annexation of its territory.

Ukraine does not recognize the independence of

the self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and

Abkhazia. Ukraine does not acknowledge, and

condemns, the attempt at illegitimate and separatist

affirmation of the statehood of any territories. This

position is fundamental for Ukrainian foreign policy.

Deviation from the United Nations principles,

such as the use of force, and the renewal of cold-war

rhetoric provoke our deep concern. Those processes

create a potential threat both for Ukraine and for other

countries in the region.

The problem cannot be solved through isolation,

self-isolation or mutual accusations. There is only one

way out. With common and good will we are to

consolidate our values and the aims contained in the

United Nations Charter and the Millennium

Declaration.

With full responsibility for peace and security, we

need to stop disturbances by separatist spirits, which

can turn into misfortune for the instigators themselves.

It is essential to reject blackmailing and threatening

vocabulary. Ukraine rejects pressure of any kind

regarding ways to ensure its own security and to

determine membership in collective security structures.

Such attempts at infringement are short-sighted and

counterproductive.

We call for the strengthening of the role of the

Security Council, the only body with exclusive

authority in issues of global peace and security. We

need its decisions to be balanced and its actions to be

effective.

Ukraine supports all efforts aimed at peaceful

settlement and unblocking of the situation on the South

Caucasus and will fully cooperate in that process. We

will continue our peacekeeping activities firmly and

vigorously, and we will participate in the settlement of

the protracted conflicts on the basis of respect for the

principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity,

inviolability of borders, human rights, freedoms and

dignity.

The world is waiting for a confident and positive

response from the United Nations. The world needs

renewed confidence in our collective efforts and strict

adherence to the norms of international law and to the

United Nations Organization.

Our national agenda is concordant with the main

challenges facing the international community. As a

country possessing the best black-earth soil in the

world, Ukraine is going to contribute tangibly to the

common work on solving the global food crisis.

We plan to consolidate all possible efforts to

realize an effective and just energy policy. The

principles that should be implemented are mutual

benefit, the continuous fulfilment of obligations and

the inadmissibility of any energy pressure.

We reinforce our call for more active global

cooperation in the sphere of the environment. Ukraine

puts forward an initiative to develop a binding

framework agreement — a World Environmental

Constitution — and to establish a single-structure

system for ecological and environmental protection,

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with relevant authority and mechanisms in the United

Nations.

We plan to revitalize efforts in the fight against

HIV/AIDS and other dangerous diseases. This problem

remains highly topical for Ukraine.

Undoubtedly, Ukraine will continue to keep an

eye on the whole range of common tasks and

challenges, from poverty problems to trafficking in

human beings, international terrorism and proliferation

of weapons of mass destruction.

The line we follow is clear. Our policy is based

on democratic values, open dialogue with all partners

of different cultures, and unconditional respect for

fundamental human rights. I have the honour to appeal

to the world community with a request for solidarity.

This year Ukraine will mark the seventy-fifth

anniversary of the Great Famine — the Holodomor,

which took the lives of about 10 million of our

compatriots. Our intention is not directed against any

people or State. We neither overstate nor understate our

sorrow. The tenor of hunger in Ukraine was oriented

towards genocide and was accompanied by the total

elimination of the national elite, the public leadership

and the priesthood. The goal was to overpower a nation

of millions, because, according to the regime, there

were too many people to displace to Siberia.

It is important that our steps encourage other

countries of the former Soviet Union to find the truth.

We share the pain of all the people affected —

Russians, Belarusians, Kazakhs and dozens of other

nations. We invite a joint commemoration of each

national tragedy and no toleration of new attempts to

create a heroic aureole around Stalin and his regime.

We have invaluable examples of mutual understanding

with Poland, Hungary and other States. Honest and

sincere memories about the past have not split us but

have united us. It is our aspiration that memories of the

victims of the Holodomor and other crimes of

totalitarian regimes will prevent the world from

repeating such catastrophes.

I believe in our ability to respond effectively to

every challenge the world is facing. Ukraine is

determined to work on this. We will act as dedicated

partners. Everything is in our hands. I believe in our

power, will and wisdom.