Update: Russia invades Ukraine
The ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, Jose Blanco spoke at the international forum on 23 February 2022 and urged the United Nations exercise its role as the place to discuss differences between nations to avoid armed confrontations. The Ministry of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic is concerned the tense situation in eastern Europe is having an impact on trade and tourism.
The Ukrainian crisis impacts the Dominican Republic with higher petrol prices. The increase in fuel prices has further stimulated inflation, already suffering from the increase in freights caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Russia and Ukraine are leading sources of tourists for the country. The uncertainties affect travel from those countries to the Punta Cana resorts area.
“In a scenario of violence and acts of force there would be no winner. We would all lose, no matter whether we are large or small states,” the diplomat stated referring to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The permanent representative of the Dominican Republic to the UN added that, by unilaterally recognizing the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics, an integral part of the territory of Ukraine, a full member state of the United Nations, Russia is violating three basic principles of international law: respect for the territorial integrity of States; the commitment to resolve disputes by peaceful methods and to refrain from resorting to the threat or use of force; and respect for political independence and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states.
“This situation has created the conditions for an expansion of the current warlike confrontation in eastern Ukraine, affecting peace in the region and with the potential to spread to other countries that make up our organization. The echo of arms would also affect the economy, politics and social stability of the entire region and would generate chaos in global markets, including the energy sector and food supply chains,” said Ambassador Blanco.
The Dominican Republic urged the Security Council to proactively play its role as defender and promoter of international peace and security.
Speaking at the United Nations on Wednesday, 23 February 2022, Dominican ambassador to the United Nations, Jose Blanco, was critical of Russia’s recent actions that have recognized as independent republics the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine, affecting peace in eastern Europe.
The Dominican representative to the UN said that the echo of arms would also affect the economy, politics and social stability of the entire region and would generate chaos in global markets, including the energy sector and food supply chains.
“Russia violates three basic principles of international law- respect for the territorial integrity of States; the commitment to resolve disputes by peaceful methods and to refrain from resorting to the threat or use of force; and respect for political independence and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other States,” said the Dominican diplomat.
Blanco set the position of the Dominican Republic: “Dominican Republic does not accept that international law be broken nor that the international order based on freely accepted rules be broken. There would be no winner in a scenario of violence and acts of force. We would all lose, no matter if we are large or small states”, said Blanco.
“It is time to urgently favor dialogue and diplomatic negotiation. We call on none of the parties involved to cross the line of contact and to cease all interference in the internal affairs of other states, especially those that exacerbate passions or instigate violence,” he added.
The Dominican Republic’s position, as stated by Blanco, is to resume diplomatic dialogue within the framework of the Minsk agreements.
The Ministry of Foreign Relations from day one has insisted on more dialogue. “In keeping with our traditional vocation of respect for public international law and the search for peaceful solutions to disputes, the Dominican Government calls on our allies and friends in Europe and the Americas, especially the United States and Russia, to lower the tension, to immediately withdraw military assets in the area in question and to seek a peaceful solution to this crisis, which respects the territorial integrity and security of all countries, especially Ukraine,” the Ministry of Foreign Relations has stated.
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Ministry of Foreign Relations
Ministry of Foreign Relations
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CNN
24 February 2022