UWC President Eugene Czolij fulfills working visit to Brazil

27 September – 1 October 2017 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij, on the invitation of UWC member organization Ukrainian Brazilian Central Representation, fulfilled a working visit to Curitiba, Brazil, during which he had public appearances on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the UWC and met with high-ranking officials, civil society and the Ukrainian community in the State of Parana.

Delivering an address on 30 September 2017 during the conference UWC at 50 and beyond: The South American Vector with the participation of Ukrainians from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, Eugene Czolij presented the main accomplishments of the UWC over 50 years and its vision for the future.

On this day, Eugene Czolij delivered a keynote address about the UWC during a commemorative banquet with which the local Ukrainian community led by the Ukrainian Brazilian Central Representation, and representatives of Ukrainian organizations from Argentina and Paraguay marked the 50^th anniversary of the UWC.

27-29 September 2017 the UWC President had meetings with high-ranking officials of the State of Parana during which he emphasized the importance of support for Ukraine during international forums on such issues as the defence of its territorial integrity, compliance by the Russian Federation with the Minsk agreements and its de-occupation of Crimea. Eugene Czolij focused attention on the need to consolidate the international community in combatting the hybrid war of the Russian Federation which poses a threat to peace and security in the world. In this context, the UWC President noted the need to defend human rights and freedoms on the illegally occupied territories of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Eugene Czolij also shared information on Ukraine’s progress in reforming, modernizing and battling corruption. In addition, he called upon Brazil to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.

The UWC President raised these issues during his address to a meeting of the Commercial Association of Parana attended by consuls, honorary consuls and business persons. During the meeting Eugene Czolij was presented a Certificate of Recognition by the Commercial Association of Parana.

Ukrainian religious life in Brazil was discussed by the UWC President during separate meetings with Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Archeparchy of St. John the Baptist in Curitiba of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Brazil Volodymyr Kovbych, and Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy in Brazil and South America Jeremias Ferens.

While in Curitiba, Eugene Czolij addressed the Ukrainian community of the Parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and also met with students and teachers of Ukrainian heritage schools Lesia Ukrainka and Poltava.

The UWC President also paid tribute to Taras Shevchenko and victims of the Holodomor at monuments in their honor and visited a Memorial dedicated to Ukrainian immigration.

During the visit the UWC President was accompanied by President of the Ukrainian Brazilian Central Representation Vitorio Sorotiuk.

“I express my deep gratitude to the Ukrainian Brazilian Central Representation led by Vitorio Sorotiuk for the successful organization of events commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the Ukrainian World Congress, and to the representatives of Ukrainian communitiies in Argentina and Paraguay for their participation,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.

List of high-ranking officials with whom the UWC President met:

Barros Ricardo, Minister of Health of Brazil

Borghetti Cida, Vice Governor of the State of Parana

Czaikowski Mariano, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the State of Parana

Guimaraes Carlos Eduardo de Athayde, Vice President of the Commercial Association of Parana

Guimaraes Eduardo Pereira, President of the Institute of International Relations of Parana

De Mello Pericles Holleben, Deputy of the Assembly of the State of Parana

Neves Thomas, President of Consular Society in Parana

Pizzatto Luciano, Secretary of the State of Parana

Rodrigues Ezequias Moreira, Special Secretary of Ceremonial and International Relations of the State of Parana

Traiano Ademar, President of the Legislative Assembly of Parana

Tronenko Rostyslav, Ambassador of Ukraine to Brazil

 

The video from the address of Eugene Czolij at the Commercial Association of Parana is available HERE.

In the photo from left: A. Traiano, P. H. de Mello, E. Czolij and V. Sorotiuk

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