The European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said Saturday that Russia's intention with the conflict in Ukraine is to turn it into “a second Syria”, while warning of the need to strengthen international laws.
“If a strong country can impose force on a neighbor who does not threaten it, all it wants, committing war crimes as it is doing, destroying a country, making Mariupol the 'European Aleppo, 'and making Ukraine a second Syria, then the whole world is in danger,” he said at the opening of the Doha Forum.
The High Representative stressed during the session “Transforming for a New Era” that conflict “is a problem on the borders of Europe, but it is not a European problem” but a problem of the world, which requires “strengthening legislation at an international level and a better balance of power”.
On Friday, Borrell called Russia's “deliberate” attacks on civilians in the war in Ukraine “shameful” and stressed that those responsible “will be held accountable.”
“These deliberate attacks on civilians are v shameful, reprehensible and constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law,” Borrell said in a statement on the occasion of the UN General Assembly resolution, supported by 140 countries, demanding Russia “an immediate cessation of hostilities against Ukraine, and in particular any attack against civilians and civilian targets”.
Those attacks, Borrell said, “must be stopped now and Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.”
“Those responsible for violations of International Humanitarian Law will be held accountable,” he stressed.
Only five countries voted against the UN resolution on Thursday, while 38 abstained, showing the “overwhelming” rejection of Russia's attacks, Borrell said.
The international community's rejection of Russia's invasion of Ukrainian territory is almost similar to that demonstrated last March 2, when the resolution was adopted that “deplored” Russian aggression and called for its immediate cessation. But a month after the war began, “Russia continues with daily attacks on the civilian population and infrastructure of Ukraine,” lamented the head of European diplomacy.
“Those fleeing besieged cities are being attacked, schools, hospitals and residential buildings are being bombed. There are reports of the use of cluster munitions in populated areas,” the Spanish politician listed.
But “beyond destroying Ukraine and trying to destabilize Europe, this conflict is putting millions of people at risk of food insecurity, particularly in the least developed countries, which often adds to existing humanitarian difficulties,” he warned.
In this regard, he added, the European Union supports the initiative of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to establish a global crisis group to identify concrete measures to address these risks. He recalled that the EU and its member states are also taking steps to address food insecurity and other negative consequences caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Finally, Borrell urged that the world stand united against Russia's “flagrant” violations of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and human rights.
(With information from EFE)
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