Οpen debate in the Security Council on "the victims of attacks and abuses on ethnic or religious grounds in the Middle East”- Statement by Ambassador C. Boura (27.03.2015)

SECURITY COUNCIL
Agenda Item “The situation in the Middle East”

Open Debate on
The victims of attacks and abuses on ethnic or
religious grounds in the Middle East
___________________________________________________________

Statement by
H.E. Ambassador Catherine Boura
Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations

NEW YORK
Friday, March 27th, 2015

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Mr President,

Your Excellencies,

I would like to thank the French Presidency of the Security Council for taking the initiative to convene this important debate.

I also wish to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his insightful statement and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein for his comprehensive presentation.

Greece aligns itself with the European Union statement delivered by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights Mr Stavros Lambrinidis and wishes to underline the following from a national point of view:

The protracted conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and the horrendous crimes committed by ISIL and other terrorist groups, have resulted into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in these regions with a severe impact on minorities and religious-ethnic communities.

As terrorist groups display, in the most brutal way, their determination to erode any trace of civilization in the region, we are witnessing heinous persecutions, violence, massive killings and deliberate destruction of historical and cultural heritage of such communities and groups.

Christian, Yezidi, Kurdish, Turkmen, Shabak and Muslim communities that have co-existed for centuries in tolerance and mutual respect, are now being displaced or forced to flee, while many others are kidnapped and executed. Vulnerable groups, such as women and children of religious and ethnic communities are targeted by violent extremists through abductions, hostage-taking, rape, human trafficking and slavery despite numerous international calls for an immediate end to all sexual and gender based violence.

In Iraq, the serious violent attacks and harassment against Yezidis, Chaldeans and other Christian communities, have forced them to flee their homes. It is remarkable that in Iraq, half of the country’s 1.4 million Christians have already left their homes while 400.000 Yezidis are displaced. In Syria, ISIL and other terrorist groups have perpetrated all sorts of abuses and inhuman acts against Christians. It should be recalled that Muslim communities and citizens are also victims of vicious and barbaric abuse.

Mr President,

Greece supports the Secretary General’s and UN efforts and Resolutions, as well as the relevant European Union statements and action, and condemns human rights violations and the acts of barbarism perpetrated against religious and ethnic groups, and the denial of their right to remain in their homeland. We condemn the deliberate destruction and looting of cultural heritage, such as monuments, museums, churches and religious shrines and sites.

Combined with our firm stance in the fight against terrorism and extremist ideology, arrangements for close monitoring of the situation of religious and ethnic groups in the region as a first step to prevent their persecution and oppression, should in our view be considered. The situation of religious and ethnic groups can serve as an indicator that measures the overall political atmosphere in the Middle East.

Efforts for peace in the region and for the prevention of the spill-over of violence in neighbouring countries will require work towards a regional consensus for supporting the historical presence of these communities in their homeland. In this spirit, the efforts of religious institutions, including the ancient Churches, and of civil society promoting moderation in the region and aiming at preserving the peaceful coexistence of various religious and ethnic communities merit our attention and support.

In this context, Greece has undertaken an initiative to convene an International Conference with the aim to address the issue in a comprehensive way.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, and as we celebrate the fundamental values and principles of the Organization, we should make it our duty to prevent the loss of the invaluable cultural heritage of the Middle East part of which dates far back in time, to the very origins of our civilization.

Thank you