Category: Europe

Hours after diplomats took the floor at the General Assembly to deplore Russia’s actions toward Ukraine and appeal for diplomacy, Mr. Guterres said that instead of repeating what he’d already stated, his political chief would update the Council on “a number of events” that took place during the day. But before handing the microphone to her, he drew attention to… Read More

“It is time for restraint, reason and de-escalation. There is no place for actions and statements that would take this dangerous situation over the abyss”, he said, calling for a ceasefire, dialogue and negotiations to save the people in Ukraine and beyond from the scourge of war. He also encouraged all parties to make full use of Article 33 of… Read More

“I am deeply concerned that any significant escalation in military action creates a heightened risk of serious human rights violations as well as violations of international humanitarian law”, said Michele Bachelet. She underscored that at this critical juncture, “the priority, above all”, must be to prevent a further escalation, and to avert civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of civilian infrastructure.… Read More

“Our world is facing the biggest global peace and security crisis in recent years – certainly in my tenure as Secretary-General,” he said. Having cut short an overseas visit that included “a very important summit of African leaders”, the UN chief told journalists that “we face a moment that I sincerely hoped would not come.” Stem any further escalation Mr.… Read More

“The risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs,” Rosemary A. DiCarlo said, reminding that Russia’s decision to recognize the independence of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions “in violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” risk having regional and global repercussions. “We also regret the order today to deploy Russian troops into… Read More

He said in a statement that violence, ill-treatment, and pushbacks continue to be regularly reported at multiple entry points at land and sea borders.   The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, expressed deep concern over an increasing number of incidents of violence and serious human rights violations against refugees and migrants at various European borders, several of which have resulted in tragic… Read More

Addressing world leaders at the Munich Security Conference on Friday – amid an intense spike in shelling in eastern Ukraine by opposing sides, and a concentration of Russian troops around the country’s borders – Mr Guterres said that it was high time to “seriously de-escalate” the crisis. Jaw-jaw “There is no alternative to diplomacy,” the UN chief said, adding that… Read More

On Thursday, according to media reports and the Ukrainian Government, shells fired by separatists in the east, hit and damaged a kindergarten in the Luhansk region. There were no reported casualties. Attacks on kindergartens and schools have been a sad reality for children in eastern Ukraine over the past eight years. We call on all parties to respect the Safe… Read More

“Whatever one believes about the prospect of such a confrontation, the reality is that the current situation is extremely dangerous,” said Rosemary A. DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, acknowledging reports of fresh ceasefire violations across the contact line just hours earlier, which if verified, “must not be allowed to escalate.” Call for intense diplomacy She called on all sides to exercise… Read More

Over the past two weeks, cases of the virus have more than doubled in six countries across Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belaurus, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine, said WHO Regional Director, Dr. Hans Kluge. “As anticipated, the Omicron wave is moving east – 10 eastern Member States have now detected this variant”, he added. ‘This remains a deadly… Read More