Right of Reply on the Situation in Ukraine and the Need to Implement the Minsk Agreements
As delivered by Political Counselor Gregory Macris
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
November 14, 2019
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As my esteemed Russian colleague mentioned officials from my country on several occasions, I feel compelled to respond.
Regarding, first, to his mention of the American Chargé d’Affaires in Kyiv’s visit to the line of contact: the Chargé d’Affaires drew a clear distinction between military forces there, and the forces of law enforcement and the national guard. The territory in question is indisputably Ukrainian territory. The restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty and the establishment of true security will depend on the rule of law that only a legitimate security force can bring.
Regarding his second mention of Secretary Pompeo and the supply of lethal defensive weapons to the government of Ukraine, I want to zero in on that exact phrase: defensive weapons. In this room, I have quoted before former Secretary of Defense James Mattis, I will do so again. He said “defensive weapons are only worrying if you are an aggressor.”
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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