On 24-26 October 2018, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij fulfilled a working visit to Warsaw, Poland, where he addressed Warsaw Security Forum 2018. He also met with Polish high-ranking officials and representatives of civil society, with whom he raised important Ukrainian issues.
On 24-25 October 2018, the UWC President participated in Warsaw Security Forum 2018, during which he delivered a speech on the panel “The Russian-Ukrainian War: Is Ukraine falling off everyone’s radar?” In his remarks, Eugene Czolij highlighted the enormous human and economic losses endured by Ukraine as a result of the Russian aggression since the beginning of 2014. He called upon the international community to use all diplomatic and economic means to support Ukraine in the defence of its territorial integrity, and to secure the release of more than 70 Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin and 100 hostages in Eastern Ukraine. In this context, Eugene Czolij urged the international community to strengthen existing sanctions against the Russian Federation, including banning its access to the SWIFT financial network, and to adopt and implement legislation akin to Magnitsky laws for the gross violation of human rights. In conclusion, the UWC President called on the West to develop a proactive, offensive strategy with respect to Ukraine as opposed to a passive, reactionary strategy.
In meetings with Polish high-ranking officials and civil society, the UWC President thanked Poland for recognizing the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people, the 85th anniversary of which is currently being commemorated by Ukrainians worldwide. With this, he highlighted the importance of continued support for Ukraine in overcoming Russian aggressor actions, which will simultaneously safeguard peace and stability in Europe, and in furthering the processes of Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Eugene Czolij also touched upon issues related to the common historical wounds of the Ukrainian and Polish peoples and called for their constructive resolution. In addition, the UWC President called upon Polish governing authorities to cease all actions against Dr. Grzegorz Kuprianowicz – historian, civil activist, Co-Chair of the Joint Commission of Government and National and Ethnic Minorities in Poland and President of the Ukrainian Association, in conjunction with his speech during the dedication of the Sahryń memorial monument on 8 July 2018.
On 24 October 2018, at Ukrainian Home, the UWC President, together with Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Hanna Hopko, addressed a meeting of the Union of Ukrainians in Poland led by Petro Tyma during which participants discussed means of cooperation between the UWC and its network and Ukrainian authorities in support of Ukraine.
On 25 October 2018, Eugene Czolij met with Dr. Grzegorz Kuprianowicz to discuss his case and assure him that the UWC would continue to actively monitor the situation.
During his visit, the UWC President was accompanied by Director of the UWC Mission to International Organizations in Brussels Maryna Iaroshevych and, to some meetings, by President of the Union of Ukrainians in Poland Petro Tyma.
“The visit to Poland and participation in Warsaw Security Forum 2018 were beneficial, as they offered an opportunity to draw attention to the security situation in Ukraine and call upon the international community to effectively support it,” said UWC President Eugene Czolij.
The remarks of UWC President during the Warsaw Security Forum 2018 can be viewed by clicking HERE and HERE.
List of individuals with whom the UWC President met:
Dzięciołowski Rafał, Member of the National Development Council of the Section on Security and Defence Policy, Office of the President of Poland
Jach Michał, Member of Parliament of Poland, Chair of the Committee on National Defence
Kowal Paweł, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Political Studies at the Polish Academy of Sciences, former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland
Malicki Jan, Director of the Centre for East European Studies, University of Warsaw
Pisarska Katarzyna, Founder and Director of European Academy of Diplomacy
Pisarski Zbigniew, President of the Casimir Pulaski Foundation
Pomianowski Jerzy, Executive Director of the European Endowment for Democracy
Sakiewicz Tomasz, Chairman of the Board and Editor-in-Chief of Gazeta Polska
Tomak Maria, Coordinator of the Media Initiative for Human Rights
Valášek Tomáš, Director of Carnegie Europe
Żurawski vel Grajewski Przemysław, Professor, Adviser to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland
In the photo: UWC President at Warsaw Security Forum 2018 From left: J. Kobzova, E. Czolij, A. Eberhardt, A. Grigas, I. Joja and M. Nayyem
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