NEW YORK, MAY 5 – Italy supports Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ proposal for a Contact Group for Ukraine and calls for “safe, rapid and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance and to allow the export of key Ukrainian agricultural products”. The Italian Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, spoke today at the Security Council expressing appreciation and support for the diplomatic initiative taken by Secretary General Antonio Guterres with his recent mission to Moscow and Kiev.
The meeting on Ukraine was the first with the Secretary General after his return to New York. Citing Guterres’ words, Massari reaffirmed his belief that “urgent steps” must be taken to achieve peace. The first step is a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire.
Emphasizing how Russia’s “illegitimate aggression” is causing one of the most serious humanitarian crises since World War II, with very serious repercussions on global food security, Ambassador Massari reiterated Italy’s call “for Russia to guarantee safe, rapid and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance and to allow the export of key Ukrainian agricultural products.”
Italy also strongly supported Guterres’ proposal for a “Humanitarian Contact Group” composed of Russia, Ukraine and UN representatives, Massari said, and then, citing data provided by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the Ambassador denounced once again how Russia’s indiscriminate bombings have targeted densely populated areas: “This is unacceptable and we strongly support the creation of safe passageways for the evacuation of civilians. We are also concerned about the numerous journalists and information workers killed and wounded since the beginning of the conflict and the cases of gender-based violence against women and girls”.
For this reason – added Massari – Italy welcomes all instruments for the investigation of violations of human rights and humanitarian law in Ukraine, and supports the Commission of Inquiry established by the Human Rights Council for the investigation of serious human rights violations in Ukraine and the investigation of war crimes initiated by national authorities and the International Criminal Court on the input of Italy and over 40 countries. (@OnuItalia)
