Thank you, Minister,
Colleagues,

Albania was serving in the Security Council when this Group was established together with the co-chairs, Denmark, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of the Marshall Islands

It is therefore especially encouraging to see its work continue, grow, and remain at the forefront of the international effort to defend justice, uphold international law, and support the victims of this war.

Four and a half years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, accountability remains not only a legal imperative but also a moral and political necessity.

We heard from the panelists, and, over the last years, unquestionable authoritative reports have documented unlawful deportations and forcible transfers of Ukrainian children from occupied territories, which represents an assault not only on individual children but on the future of an entire nation.

Small positive steps on return are welcome. But they are just a drop of hope compared to the magnitude of crimes and the alarming reports of systematic efforts to indoctrinate and militaries children from temporarily occupied territories.

Efforts to reshape identities, sever cultural and family ties, and undermine the fundamental rights of the child are wrong, reprehensible, legally and morally.

We commend the efforts undertaken by Ukraine, by international partners to ensure that evidence is preserved, victims are supported, and perpetrators are brought to justice.

Accountability must be pursued through every available legal avenue.

This is important because accountability serves several purposes.

It delivers justice to victims and survivors.

It establishes the truth and counters attempts to rewrite reality.

It deters future violations.

And it reinforces a principle that is fundamental to the international order: that no state, and no individual is above international law.

Accountability is not an obstacle to peace.

It makes peace just; It makes peace durable.

Lasting peace needs truth, responsibility and justice.

Thank you.