Ambassador David Geer Speech for Ambassadors’ Conference 12th January 2023

Ambassador David Geer Speech for Ambassadors’ Conference 12th January 2023
Dear President Pendarovski,
Dear Deputy Prime Minister Marichjikj,
Dear Ambassador Halili,
Dear Members of the Council of Ambassadors,
Excellencies,
ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honour, once again, to address this distinguished forum. Last year proved to be a year of great challenges and dangers. Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine sought to wipe out Ukrainian independence and freedom. It sought to rewrite international law replacing respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity with the law of “might is right”. It sought to divide allies exploiting perceived weaknesses in organisations such as the European Union that are based on democratic accountability and consent. It failed and instead encountered a remarkable level of unity of purpose among allies. Allies not united by concepts of “East and West”, as the title of this discussion suggests, but bound together by a belief in international law, fundamental principles of respect for human rights and the value of multi-lateral cooperation. We can be proud of the achievements of many in the international community in support of Ukraine over the past year, including Mr President, this country, which has provided exemplary moral and 2 practical leadership on what can already be seen as one of the defining issues of our time. But most of all, Madam Ambassador Dir, Russia encountered the remarkable determination and resilience of the people of Ukraine who have demonstrated day after day, night after night what it means to cherish freedom and the right to choose the future of your own country.