NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 23 – In line with UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262, Italy reaffirms its non-recognition of the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and “remains deeply concerned about the crisis in eastern Ukraine, in consideration of its profound impact on the local civilian population and, more generally, on stability and cooperation in Europe”, the Italian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Stefano Stefanile said today during a General Assembly plenary meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Stefanile called for the full respect of international humanitarian and human rights’ law in the Crimean Peninsula: “Human rights observers and humanitarian actors should be granted full and unhindered access”, he said, adding that Italy remains strongly committed to a sustainable political solution based on the Minsk Agreements – “there is no alternative” – and will continue to uphold diplomatic efforts in the Normandy format, the OSCE and the Trilateral Contact Group.
After almost seven years of conflict, the civilian population continues to bear the heaviest burden. “We express our solidarity and remain seriously concerned about their suffering. The Italian Development Cooperation is actively engaged in the humanitarian response with a special focus on health and mine action”, said the Italian diplomat: “It is imperative to stop the violence, proceed immediately to fulfill all mine action commitments and ensure full and unimpeded access to all humanitarian actors. (@OnuItalia)
