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Back Secretary General Jagland calls on European governments to step up humanitarian aid in eastern Ukraine

Strasbourg , 

On Tuesday morning, Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland sent a letter to Council of Europe foreign ministers drawing attention to the worsening situation of displaced persons and made the following statement:

“The humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine is worsening day by day. Innocent people are being killed and wounded. The number of Internally Displaced Persons and refugees is rising dramatically. It is my responsibility as Secretary General of the Council of Europe to undertake every effort to assist our member States in ensuring that the rights guaranteed by the European Convention for Human Rights are effectively implemented, and to protect all displaced persons, regardless of who they are and where they live. That is why in my letter to Council of Europe foreign ministers today, I urge all member states to step up humanitarian aid in the region, in particular through the UNHCR and the International Red Cross and in co-ordination with the relevant national authorities”.

With reference to last Sunday’s meeting of foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France in Berlin, Mr Jagland said: “I call on all parties to continue the dialogue towards finding a political solution to this crisis.”

See also:
Ukraine and the Council of Europe

Marija Pejčinović Burić is the 14th Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The Secretary General has the overall responsibility for the strategic management of the Organisation. Ms Pejčinović Burić was elected in June 2019. Read more »