On 22 August 2016 during a commemorative event titled “Ukrainians of the world – for Ukraine” at the National Opera in Kyiv, Ukraine, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko expressed sincere gratitude to the Ukrainian diaspora for its support for Ukraine.
President Petro Poroshenko also awarded leading community activists in the diaspora with the commemorative medal of the President of Ukraine on the occasion of “25 years of Ukrainian Independence.”
National awards on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Ukrainian independence were received by the following members of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Board of Directors: UWC President Eugene Czolij, UWC First Vice President Jaroszlava Hartyanyi, UWC Secretary General Stefan Romaniw, UWC Vice Presidents Paul Grod, Vira Konyk and Olena Koszarny, Chair of the UWC World Council for Cultural Affairs Anna Kisil, Chair of the UWC International Task Force to Stop Human Trafficking Halyna Masliuk, and UWC Director of Humanitarian Affairs Victor Hetmanczuk.
On behalf of the Ukrainian diaspora, UWC President Eugene Czolij delivered remarks expressing gratitude for the commemorative event which demonstrated that for the President of Ukraine the Ukrainian diaspora is an integral part of the Ukrainian nation, and for the national awards presentation.
The commemorative event with the diaspora also included a concert program featuring artists from the Ukrainian diaspora.
“I assure the Ukrainian people in Ukraine that the 20-million strong Ukrainian diaspora led by the Ukrainian World Congress uniting Ukrainians in 50 countries will continue to actively assist Ukraine in defending its independence and territorial integrity,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
