Ukraine ‘occupation’…US, UK, Canada lobby Guyana’s support against Russia

Sep 12, 2014 News

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Despite Guyana’s affiliation to the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) bloc, as well as the current crop of leaders’ connection to Russia, the local American, British and Canadian envoys are calling on the administration to issue a public statement in solidarity with the international community against Russia over its ‘occupation’ of a section of Ukraine.
High Commissioner Nicole Giles, of Canada, Andrew Ayers of the United Kingdom as well as US Charge d’ Affairs, Bryan Hunt, yesterday met at the Canadian High Commission and issued the spirited call which they said would be in the interest of Guyana.
Giles told those present that as it relates to Canada, Russia’s continued occupation of Crimea is illegal and represents a challenge to international law and is contrary to global stability.
She noted that Canada and Guyana are similar in the sense that they are both medium and small countries in the international community that depend on international order and international law to advance the interests of the two nations, be it economical or social.
According to the Canadian Diplomat, “it matters to both Canada and Guyana whether international laws are being broken.”
She said that for both countries, a cornerstone of international order is respect for principle of the viability of international orders as well as peaceful means to resolve disputes.
In relation to how Guyana can support its international partners in the struggle against Russia, Giles told media operatives that “every country in the international community has an ability to stand up and indicate their support for the international order, their support for international law, and we would be very pleased if Guyana were able to issue a statement that would indicate its support for these principles.”
Meanwhile her British counterpart, High Commissioner Ayers, in his pitch to the Guyana Government, reminded that the two World Wars started in Europe and the Ukraine/Russian spat is currently at the top of his administration’s agenda.
He did point out that Guyana was not chosen as the location to launch an international initiative, but given the seriousness of the issue, British diplomatic missions along with their partners across the world  are carrying out similar activities.
In seeking to draw a nexus as to why Guyana should be interested in the Crimea situation where Russian forces have invaded and are fighting against the Ukranian forces, Ayers drew reference to the fact that there are currently two countries claiming rights to sections of Guyana’s territory.
“Therefore there is a parallel here,” said High Commissioner Ayers opined.
Hunt, the US Charge d’ Affairs, also supported the calls of his Canadian and British counterparts.
“We believe every country has a stake in what is happening in Ukraine,” Hunt stressed, as he too pointed out that the exercise is not one that is isolated to Guyana, but is being undertaken on a global scale wherever American missions are located.
He said that all must be concerned with whether or not Russia abides with international law, and if it will cease and desist with its occupation of another sovereign country, and further its attempt to annex a part of that country to Russia.
“All of us have a stake in this whether we are American, British, Canadian or Guyanese,” said Hunt.
According to the US Diplomat, for any country to occupy another sovereign nation would undermine hundreds of years of international law and precedent on which sovereign nations interact.
The officials did confirm that they have been engaging with both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as well as the Guyana Government on the matter. It was pointed out, however, that whatever discussions would have been had with the Guyana Government is confidential, and as such, it would be up to the local administration to make public its position.
Meanwhile the Canadian diplomat did welcome news of the ceasefire agreement on the Ukrainian-Russian border, but said they “still remain cautious given Russia’s recent track record of disregarding diplomatic and international order and its blatant violation of its neighbour’s sovereignty.”
In February 2014, Russia began its military intervention in the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.
According to Giles, “Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a territory that has belonged to Ukraine since 1954, is a clear violation of the United Nations Charter; Russia’s commitments under the Helsinki Final Act; its obligations to Ukraine under its 1997 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership; the Russia-Ukraine 1997 basing agreement; and its commitments in the Budapest Memorandum of 1994.”
Giles told media operatives present that Russia must immediately cease its aggressive acts against Ukraine, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, withdraw its forces, and end the flow of arms, including anti-aircraft systems across the border.
“There will be repercussions for Russia’s blatant acts of aggression and decision to disregard these basic tenets…Canada stands ready with its international partners to take further measures to isolate the Putin regime.”
Her British counterpart said, “We are extremely uneasy about mounting evidence that Russian troops have made large-scale incursions into South Eastern Ukraine, completely disregarding the sovereignty of a neighbour.”
He noted too that President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is willing to find a peaceful solution to the conflict “but this is not credible when Russia is supporting pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine with arms and troops; when it has illegally annexed Crimea, and when its actions have led to the deaths of more than 2500 Ukrainian citizens. It is simply not enough to engage in talks in Minsk, while Russian tanks continue to roll over the border into Ukraine.”
According to Ayre, “We urge Russia to pursue a different path and to find a political solution to this crisis. If Russia does not, then she should be in no doubt that there will be further consequences.”
Hunt was also of the opinion that “we see Russia’s actions for what they are: a deliberate effort to support, and now fight alongside, illegal separatists in another sovereign country.”
According to Hunt, if unchecked, the damage that Russia’s blatant disregard for the international order poses “is much, much greater.”
He was adamant that the situation in Ukraine is not a homegrown, indigenous uprising, but rather an incursion by Russian forces using Russian military hardware.
“We will not accept Russia’s occupation and illegal “annexation” of Crimea or any part of Ukraine…Borders cannot be redrawn at the barrel of a gun.”
Each diplomat dismissed as illegal, the referendum which was purportedly carried out by Ukrainians that wanted Crimea to be annexed to Russia.
While the Guyana Government has publicly taken positions on international matters in the past, it is yet to take a public position on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

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