Ambassador Holland reiterates the UK's support to Ukraine, and
calls on Russia to end its war and return to dialogue and risk
reduction – including in the Forum for Security Cooperation.
"Thank you Mr Chair, dear Cristobal, and to your Foreign
Minister, for setting out Spain's priorities for the Forum for
Security Co-operation this Trimester. You can count on the
UK's steadfast support, as you Chair our Forum at this crucial
time for Euro-Atlantic Security.
Over the winter period, many of us marked Christmas and the New
Year. But the people of Ukraine have had no rest.
Today marks 1069 days of their ongoing defence of their homeland,
from a full-scale invasion which continues to violate the UN
Charter and to contravene the Helsinki Final Act's core
principles, including those on sovereignty, territorial integrity
and the non-use of force.
That is why each week, we have met in this Forum to support
Ukraine and to hold Russia accountable for breaching its
commitments. And that is why we particularly welcome
Spain's proposed FSC topic on Women, Peace & Security.
Mr Chair, our Ministers mandated the Forum to hold a weekly
politico-military dialogue, with tasks that include
risk-reduction. They mandated the Chair to ‘ensure the good
order and smooth running of meetings'. To set the
agenda. And to select and invite guest speakers. We
fully support the Chair's prerogative to execute its
mandate.
Unfortunately, at the closing session last Trimester, we had to
condemn the Russian delegation – for a fourth Trimester in a row
– for its attempts to disrupt the FSC from functioning at
all. Once again, I express my thanks to Denmark, and to
other previous Chairs, for keeping the Forum functional, despite
Russia's attempts to prevent it.
As we said repeatedly, there remains another path. If the
Russian state's professed wish for peace is genuine, it must end
this war by withdrawing all of its forces to outside of Ukraine's
internationally recognised borders. And from Georgia and
Moldova. If the Russian state is serious about dialogue and
risk reduction, it must stop trying to undermine our Ministerial
mandate of this Forum meeting each week.
I wish to conclude by welcoming Estonia to the FSC Troika, and to
thank Croatia for their work as they leave the Troika. And
most importantly, I wish you, Mr Chair, and your able teams here
in Vienna and in Madrid the best of luck this Trimester.
You can count on the support of the UK delegation."
