UN Security Council on Russia allegations of military biological activities in Ukraine (11 March 2022)
Harold Saive
Security Council on Russia
allegations of military biological activities in Ukraine (11
March 2022)
https://youtu.be/olHRu_Ou4WI?t=516
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The Security Council convened on Friday for an open meeting on
Ukraine, following a request by Russia, citing allegations of
military biological activities in the European country.
High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu,
and Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding
Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, briefed the Council Members.
Dicarlo informed that the situation is “particularly alarming”
in Mariupol, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv, where there is
shelling of residential areas and civilian infrastructure,
resulting in an increasing number of civilians killed and
injured.
She argued that “all alleged violations of international
humanitarian law must be investigated and those found
responsible held accountable”
As of 11 March, OHCHR has recorded a total of 1,546 civilian
casualties, including 564 killed and 982 injured, since the
start of the invasion on 24 February.
OHCHR believes the real casualty figures are likely considerably
higher, as information from locations where intense hostilities
are ongoing has been delayed and reports are still pending
corroboration.
The Under-Secretary-General also stressed how critical iIt is
critical to urgently achieve a cessation of hostilities to allow
for the safe passage of civilians from besieged areas and to
ensure that lifesaving humanitarian supplies can reach those who
remain.
On 9 March, over 51,000 people were reportedly evacuated through
five out of six agreed-upon safe passages.
“As the war grinds on, there is already much reflection about
its implications, beyond the tragedy it represents for Ukraine.
We increasingly hear the use of terms such as “turning point”,
“defining moment”, “end of multilateralism”. I believe this is
not exaggeration. Indeed, some consequences are already being
felt, economically and politically,” DiCarlo said.
“We must do everything we can to find a solution and put an end
to this war. We must do it now,” she concluded.
Regarding the Russian allegation, Izumi Nakamitsu said she was
aware of the reports, but assured that “the United Nations is
not aware of any biological weapons programmes.”
She explained that, if agreed by the Security Council, an
investigation on the basis of the complaint received could be
initiated.
“Article VI of the Convention has never been activated. While
these provisions have not been regularly used, they are
nonetheless internationally agreed procedures that are available
to be used to defuse tensions and to address and resolve any
concerns relating to compliance with obligations under the BWC
in a multilateral setting,” she said.
Nakamitsu also expressed concern regarding an accident involving
the nuclear facilities in Ukraine, saying it could have severe
consequences for public health and the environment and all steps
must be taken to avoid it.
According to her, “the possibility of an accident caused by
failure to a reactor’s power supply or the inability to provide
regular maintenance is growing by the day.”
She explained that the forces in effective control of nuclear
power plants in Ukraine must ensure their safe and secure
operation.
“I am extremely concerned that four of the International Atomic
Energy Agency’s seven pillars for the safe and secure operation
of facilities are reportedly not being implemented at Chernobyl
and Zaporizhzhya,” she added.
The Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, the
Council Member that called for the meeting, said it was
happening because “as Russia is conducting a special military
operation in Ukraine”, it had “discovered truly shocking facts
of an emergency clean up by the Kiev regime of the traces of a
military biological program which is being implemented by Kiev
with its support by the United States Ministry of Defense.”
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the Permanent Representative to the
United Nations of the United States, noted that, last
month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken “laid out with tragic
accuracy what Russia was about to do.”
“He specifically warned that Russia would manufacture a pretext
for attack and even cautioned that Russia would fabricate
allegations about chemical or biological weapons to justify its
own violent attacks against the Ukrainian people. Today the
world is watching Russia do exactly what we wanted would”, she
said.
“I will say this once. Ukraine does not have a biological
weapons program. There are no Ukrainian biological weapons
laboratories supported by the United States, not near Russia's
border or anywhere,” she added.
On his turn, Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of
Ukraine to the United Nations, assured that his country “runs a
health system that is totally in full compliance with its
international obligations and in full cooperation with all
relevant international organizations.”
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