Event Report

JIIA Webinar "The Ukraine Crisis and the United Nations: Limitations and Possibilities"

06-16-2022
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The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) held a public webinar on June 16, 2022 entitled "The Ukraine Crisis and the United Nations: Limitations and Possibilities". The webinar was moderated by Tomiko Ichikawa, Director-General of JIIA, and Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, gave a keynote speech. Ms. Nakamitsu explained the response and efforts of the entire UN system to the Ukraine crisis, activities to mitigate global ramifications on food and energy supplies, and efforts in the fields of security, disarmament, and arms control. She stressed that it is important to reaffirm the necessity of multilateralism and continue efforts with the involvement of all UN member states so as to secure a peaceful future. In the following panel discussion, Yutaka Arima, Deputy Director-General / Deputy Assistant Minister (Ambassador) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sergiy Korsunsky, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Japan, Takeshi Moriyama, Senior Emergency Coordinator of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) made presentations from respective viewpoints, and Miki Ebara, Chief International Correspondent/Executive Producer at NHK WORLD - Japan made comments, discussing the UN's response to the Ukraine crisis and its limitations, the need to reform the Security Council and to strengthen the functions of UN agencies, the current state of assistance for refugees from Ukraine, and the perception of the UN by the Japanese public. There were many questions from the audience and a lively discussion took place.