Ukraine concerned by Iraqi action, urges restraint and dialogue (09/08/96)

Ukraine concerned by Iraqi action, urges restraint and dialogue

Following is the text of a declaration on Iraq by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, released by the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States on September 4.

Ukraine is deeply concerned with the developments in Iraq over the past few days. The situation was aggravated as a result of actions taken by Iraq, which in violation of the respective U.N. resolutions employed military force in the Kurdish conflict. This led the U.S. to launch a missile raid, aimed at military infrastructure targets in Iraq.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine proceeds from the necessity to refrain from further use of forceful means in settling the conflict in the region, to strictly adhere to the corresponding U.N. resolutions on Iraq, and to establish political dialogue between the government of Iraq and the Kurdish factions.

Bearing in mind the situation in Iraq, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine calls on the secretary-general of the United Nations to continue to expend all appropriate efforts for the quickest possible implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 986 (1995).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine anticipates that the resolution of this situation will not lead to the further heightening of the conflict, which would be extremely dangerous in the context of solving problems in the Middle East as a whole. Ukraine is ready to join the efforts of the international community, aimed at normalization of the circumstances, as well as averting the threat to international peace and security, and avoiding casualties among civilians.