Thank you, Madam Chair.
Norway fully aligns with the statement of the European Union. Let me add the following remarks in my national capacity.
As I take the floor for the first time, let me express our deepest condolences and solidary with those affected by the terrible flash floods in Spain.
First, let me express our deep concern about reports of North-Korea’s further involvement in Russia’s war of aggression through troop contributions currently in Russia. Deployment to Ukraine would constitute an aggressive, unprovoked and escalatory act.
Second, the Russian aggression has destroyed large parts of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This reveals a distinct pattern that will have severe consequences for civilians, making them vulnerable and exposed for the upcoming winter.These attacks also jeopardize nuclear safety and security, even when the nuclear power plants are not directly hit. Frequent power outages and unreliable electricity heighten the risk of unwanted incidents at Ukraine's nuclear power plants. International law places a clear responsibility on the parties to avoid disproportionate harm to civilians. Any attack that endangers nuclear safety in Ukraine and Europe is therefore unacceptable.
Norway plans to spend approximately 30 million Euro in funding under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine for energy-related measures and to help the Ukrainian people through another winter of war. This will secure electricity for more than 1 million people and industries in Ukraine. It will also contribute to the efforts of rebuilding power stations in the Dnipro region, Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Lviv. Norway remains steadfast in its commitment to aid Ukraine, mobilizing substantial resources to restore its energy facilities, which are essential not just for military defense but for civilian survival.
Third,
Driven by the values of human rights and humanitarian law, Ministers and organisations from more than 70 countries continue- as we speak- their work at the Montreal-conference on the 4th Peace Formula to advance practical solutions to ensure all stages of the return process for prisoners and deportees: prisoners of war, civilian hostages, and deported children. These efforts remain crucial as Russian war crimes and corresponding human rights violations continue.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine recently published its third report to the General Assembly. It consistently found that Russian authorities use torture against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war. They have committed torture in all provinces of Ukraine where areas came under Russian control as well as in the detention facilities investigated in the Russian Federation. These war crimes and the corresponding human rights violation must be brought to an end immediately.
We continue to call for the immediate release of the three arbitrarily detained SMM-colleagues.
Thank you.