Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine on a point of order to move a motion that the General Assembly take action on draft resolution A/80/L.27 first

Madam President,

The Delegation of Ukraine would like to move a motion before the GA takes action on draft resolution A/80/L.3.

Under rule 91 of the Rules of Procedure, proposals relating to the same question are voted on in the order in which they were submitted. However, this Rule also clearly provides that the General Assembly may decide otherwise. Today is precisely such a case where the Assembly should exercise this prerogative for the following reasons.

This particular matter is a sovereign responsibility of Ukraine as the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Exclusion Zone are located entirely within the sovereign territory of Ukraine.

We also have to bear in mind the impact of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression on the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. On 24 February 2022, the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone became one of the first targets of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which was enabled, inter alia, from the territory of Belarus.

Distinguished colleagues, Belarus has lost any moral standing and right to initiate decisions concerning the Chornobyl issue within the United Nations, given its role in enabling the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as well as the resulting consequences for the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Exclusion Zone. Draft resolution A/80/L.3 submitted by Belarus fails to acknowledge significant developments on the ground since February 2022.

By contrast, draft resolution A/80/L.27 initiated by Ukraine and over 35 other UN Member States reflects the positions of the broad cross-regional group of sponsors, is grounded in the Charter of the United Nations and responds directly to the humanitarian, legal and moral dimensions of the situation at hand. It is therefore logical and appropriate that the Assembly vote on our text first, so that Member States may express their position on the substantive and widely supported proposal.

For these reasons, Ukraine moves that the General Assembly take action on draft resolution A/80/L.27 first.

Ukraine will vote YES, and we call on all delegations to support this motion.

Thank you.