Vaduz (ots) -
Government Councillor Dominique Hasler took part in the third Ukraine Recovery Conference on Tuesday, June 11. Liechtenstein emphasized that it needs the contribution of all allied states to further strengthen support for Ukraine.
Following the Lugano Conference in 2022 and the follow-up conference in London in 2023, the third Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) will take place in Berlin at the joint invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. This year's conference will focus on the four dimensions of the private sector, humanitarian issues, local and regional reconstruction and EU aspects (accession process and reforms). More than 50 states as well as international organizations and hundreds of representatives of the private sector are taking part in the conference. Government Councillor Dominique Hasler represented Liechtenstein on the first day of the conference.
Commitment of Western countries and the private sector of crucial importance
Russian aggression has caused enormous damage to civilian infrastructure and private property in the war that has been going on for more than two years. In February 2024, the World Bank estimated the damage at more than 480 billion US dollars. This figure is likely to have risen significantly again due to the intensification of the attacks by Russia in the spring. The reconstruction of the country is therefore likely to take decades, but it is extremely important that this takes place on an ongoing basis during the war. Otherwise, there is a risk that a large part of the infrastructure will fall apart and many of the state's vital tasks to protect its citizens, such as the healthcare and education systems, cannot be carried out. Another area that already requires reconstruction is the energy supply, which has been destroyed to a high degree by the Russian attacks, with massive negative consequences in Ukraine itself, but also in Europe. Investments must therefore be made now to lay the foundations for sustainable development in Ukraine.
One of the focal points of the conference was the payment of reparations for the damage caused by Russia in Ukraine. In this context, Government Councillor Hasler emphasized in her speech the great importance of the register of damages, which was opened during Liechtenstein's chairmanship of the Council of Europe in Kiev and The Hague. The register is an important prerequisite for ensuring accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine. Government Councillor Hasler also informed the audience that Liechtenstein is currently drafting a proposal for the country's participation in reconstruction efforts. Liechtenstein has already supported aid projects in Ukraine with around 4 million Swiss francs.
Bilateral talks on engagement in Ukraine
Bilateral talks also took place on the fringes of the conference. These included a meeting with the Austrian Minister of Economy, Martin Kocher. The delegations from Liechtenstein and Austria informed each other about the respective reconstruction activities and exchanged views on possible opportunities for cooperation on reconstruction projects in Ukraine
