On 3-4 July 2017 in Bern, Switzerland, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij held meetings with the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland, Walter Thurnherr, high-ranking government officials, and the Ukrainian community during which he promoted the fundamental values of civilization, and specifically the principles of the territorial integrity of states, and respect for and safeguarding of human rights.
During the meetings, the UWC President noted the significance of the non-recognition by Switzerland of the illegal occupation of Crimea and the implementation of restrictive measures to prevent the circumvention of European Union sanctions against the Russian Federation for its gross non-compliance with the Minsk agreements. The UWC President called for Switzerland to continue assisting Ukraine in restoring its territorial integrity. Eugene Czolij also called to further efforts to secure the release by the Russian Federation of Ukrainian political prisoners and reduce the human, national and religious rights violations of the residents of the occupied territories of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.
The UWC President thanked Switzerland for the technical and humanitarian assistance provided in the framework of the Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Ukraine 2015-2018 in the amount of nearly 100 million Swiss francs.
Eugene Czolij also highlighted the attempts of the Russian disinformation campaign to portray Ukraine as a failed state and in this context, drew attention to the fact that today Ukraine is successfully reforming, battling corruption and modernizing.
While in Bern, the UWC President met with the Ukrainian community during which he spoke about the accomplishments of the UWC during its 50-year history and presented UWC Certificates of Recognition.
During meetings, the UWC President was accompanied by President of the Ukrainian Society in Switzerland Andrej Lushnytsky, Chargé d’affaires of Ukraine in Switzerland Ostap Yukhymovych and Director of the UWC Mission to International Organizations in Brussels Maryna Iaroshevych.
“The Ukrainian World Congress calls upon Switzerland to continue assisting Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity, acknowledge Ukraine’s reforms and support its economic development,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
List of individuals with whom the UWC President met:
Baeriswyl Pascale, State Secretary, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
Böni Slaats Barbara, Head of the Eurasian Division, Agency for Development and Cooperation, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
Duss Jean-Gabriel, Program Manager Ukraine, Agency for Development and Cooperation, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
Guldimann Tim, Member of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Swiss Parliament
Heer Alfred, Member of the Swiss Parliament and President of the Swiss Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Markwalder Christina, Head of the Swiss-Ukraine Friendship Group, Member of the Swiss Parliament
Kats Rouslan,Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner, Embassy of Canada in Switzerland
Salvisberg Roland, Head of the Peace Policy Bureau for Europe and Asia, Mediation and Democratization, Human Security Division, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
Schmidt Zarah, Deputy Coordinator for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and OSCE, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland
Sommaruga Carlo, Member of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Swiss Parliament
Thurnherr Walter, Federal Chancellor of Switzerland
Tornare Manuel, Member of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Swiss Parliament, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Yukhymovych Ostap, Chargé d’affaires of Ukraine in Switzerland
In the photo from left: A. Lushnytsky, E. Czolij, W. Thurnherr and O. Yukhymovych
