18:44 | New York (U.S.), Mar. 23.
Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations (UN) Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros on Wednesday called on the parties to the conflict in Ukraine to agree on a ceasefire, as an immediate measure, to open the way for diplomatic negotiations.
In his speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Rodriguez Cuadros indicated that the intervention in said country is worsening "and the civilian population continues to unjustly suffer the ravages of the conflicts."
"This imperative that the peaceful and democratic conscience of mankind demands is also the call of the Government of Peru for the parties to the conflict to agree to a ceasefire, and that as an immediate measure. We further call for diplomatic negotiations to continue to be able to bring an end to the conflict," he said.
In this sense, he said that history has taught us that the only way, the most practical and effective way to bring an end into the suffering of the civilian population in armed conflict "is a cessation of hostilities, a ceasefire, the cessation of violence."
"While the conflict continues and the weapons continue to fire, we must demand compliance with the overwhelming obligation on the international law and international humanitarian law to limit the suffering of the civilian population, to protect the population, and to ensure the enjoyment of their human rights," the diplomat added.
Rodriguez Cuadros remarked that "these are not goodwill recommendations nor the guidelines for desirable conduct, these are international obligations contracted by the parties to the conflict. They must imperatively be complied with."
"The protection of populations cannot discriminate on political grounds. It solely and exclusively responds to the human dimension of its protection, without any form of discrimination. The United Nations have the mandate to protect all of the civilian population suffering in conflict," he added.
Moreover, he asked the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law every day in every hour of the conflict, particularly, the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its Additional Protocol from 1977; the parties should further guarantee the protection of the civilian population and detained persons.
(END) JCC/RMB
Published: 3/23/2022