November 14, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
UWC PRESIDENT MEETS IN BELGIUM WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS
On November 4, 2011, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij met in Brussels, Belgium, with the Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for External Relations, Gunnar Wiegand.
The parties discussed current troubling events in Ukraine, including the persecutionof political opponents. In conjunction with this, Eugene Czolij noted the relevance of the European Parliament resolution of 27 October 2011 on the current developments in Ukraine and stressed the need for Ukraine’s integration into the EU in order to distance the country from Russia’s sphere of influence, accelerate the democratization of Ukrainian society, and secure the adherence by the Ukrainian governing authorities to European values. Referring to the November 2, 2011 appeal to the European community by Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, the UWC President called upon the EU to initial the Association Agreement with Ukraine by the end of the year.
The UWC President also emphasized the importance of continued EU funding for the projects of Ukrainian NGOs aimed at strengthening civil society, and the continued monitoring of the draft law On Election of People’s Deputies of Ukraine.
Later that day, Eugene Czolij met with the Ukrainian community in Brussels to share information about the work of the UWC over the past year. He called for their continued cooperation and support for UWC activities.
