Foreign Minister discusses Ukraine situation with top foreign diplomats in T&T
Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Senator Dr Amery Browne, met today in a Démarche with several Heads of Diplomatic Missions in Port of Spain to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The Minister and ambassadors also agreed on support for and co-sponsorship of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) draft resolution titled, Humanitarian consequences of the aggression against Ukraine.
The Démarche was led by His Excellency Peter Cavendish, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, who was accompanied by Her Excellency Ute König, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany; His Excellency Sándor Marnix Raphaёl Varga van Kibéd en Makfalva, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; His Excellency Fernando Nogales Álvarez, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain; Her Excellency Harriet Cross, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; His Excellency Sharad Kumar Gupta, High Commissioner for Canada; His Excellency Didier Chabert, Ambassador of the French Republic; Mr Shante Moore, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of United States of America; Mr Yasuhiko Kamada, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Embassy of Japan; and Mr Sanjin Soldatic, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union.
Minister Browne reiterated to the senior diplomats this country’s ongoing and deep concern at the horrific developments in Ukraine and noted that there was more work to be done on the diplomatic and humanitarian fronts.
The Heads of Mission expressed appreciation for Trinidad and Tobago’s strong support in joining calls for the cessation of the invasion in Ukraine and the mitigation of the humanitarian impact of the crisis on civilians.
There also was general agreement among the Démarche participants about the importance and vigorous pursuit of diplomatic solutions to the crisis.
Foreign Minister Browne also expressed Trinidad and Tobago’s strong support for the UNGA draft resolution on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. He underscored that this country’s position has been consistent across multilateral fora, including the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS), and was in keeping with the work maintained by most countries throughout the world.
The UN draft resolution is being tabled today, Wednesday 23 March 2022, and articulates, among other things, the following:
● Support for the efforts of the UN (and its coordinating role) and humanitarian organisations to help the Ukrainian people;
● Demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities – especially against civilians;
● Urging humanitarian access and considering the broader consequences of the war, including for food security worldwide; and
● Encouraging the continuation of negotiations towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
0 Comment