By Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaks on situation in Ukraine in front of the Non-Violence bronze “Knotted Gun” sculpture at Visitors Plaza at UN world headquarters in New York April 19, 2022.
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres made impassioned plea Tuesday to Russia and Ukraine to “silence the guns” and allow a four-day humanitarian pause in the bloody conflict. The Secretary-General said this year, Orthodox Holy Week is being observed under a “cloud of a war” that totally negates the Easter message of unity. Secretary-General Guterres appealed to the parties in the Russia-Ukraine war during a press conference at UN world headquarters in front of the iconic Non-Violence “Knotted Gun” sculpture at Visitors Plaza. In five days, Ukrainians and Russians will mark Easter, a holiday that joins in celebration the Orthodox Christians in both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Catholic Ukrainians.
“Easter is a season for renewal, resurrection and hope. It is a time for reflection on the meaning of suffering, sacrifice, death – and rebirth. It is meant to be a moment of unity. Instead of a celebration of new life, this Easter coincides with a Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine”.
-UN Secretary-General António Guterres
DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO – UN Secretary General Appeals to Russia, Ukraine to allow a four-day humanitarian pause in the bloody conflict
By Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaks on situation in Ukraine in front of the Non-Violent “Knotted Gun” sculpture at Visitors Plaza at UN world headquarters in New York April 19, 2022.
DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO – UN Secretary General Appeals to Russia, Ukraine to allow a four-day humanitarian pause in the bloody conflict.
The Secretary-General called for a four-day Holy Week humanitarian pause beginning on Holy Thursday and running through Easter Sunday, 24 April, to allow for a series of humanitarian corridors to open. Guterres explained that a humanitarian pause would provide the necessary conditions to meet two crucial imperatives, beginning with safe passage of all civilians willing to leave the areas of current and expected confrontation. He said this would be done in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The UN Secretary-General’s appeal came after attacks on cities across the country– most recently Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv – which resulted in numerous civilian casualties and destruction. Guterres said he is deeply concerned by the continuing attacks on Ukrainian cities causing more casualties and destruction in residential areas, as well as civilian infrastructure.
The UN chief stated that there is “a measure of progress to build upon,” noting that over the past seven weeks, some 2.5 million people have been provided with assistance, including many in the east.
Ukraine Has Endured 136 Attacks on Healthcare Facilities
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that Ukraine has endured 136 attacks on healthcare facilities, which have killed 73 people, and injured 52 others. This means that Ukraine accounts for more than 68 per cent of all attacks on health care worldwide in 2022.
“STOP THE BLOODSHED AND DESTRUCTION!”
“For all these life-or-death reasons, I call on Russians and Ukrainians to silence the guns and forge a path to safety for so many at immediate risk. Stop the bloodshed and destruction. Save lives. Keep faith with the meaning and the message of Easter.”
UN Secretary-General Guterres
The Non-Violent “Knotted Gun” sculpture at Visitors Plaza at UN world headquarters in New York (nonviolence.com)
Initially exhibited in the Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park a bronze version of the sculpture was donated by the Government of Luxembourg and unveiled in 1988 in front of the United Nations’ headquarters. Since the first bronze sculpture exhibited in front of the United Nations, replicas have been placed in more than 30 strategic locations around the world: including the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (Switzerland), at the Waterfront in Cape Town (South Africa) or in Beirut (Lebanon).
