On 9-10 December 2016 in Berlin, Germany, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij participated in a forum with Ukrainian community organizations in Germany organized by the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Germany (AUOG) and the Embassy of Ukraine, and a reception and Second Biennial General Meeting of the AUOG, the UWC Ukrainian national central representation in Germany.
During the forum held on 9 December 2016, Eugene Czolij delivered an address on the importance of uniting local Ukrainians within their umbrella organization in Germany – AUOG.
On this day, the UWC President delivered the keynote address during the AUOG reception calling upon the AUOG to support Ukraine in the defence of its territorial integrity, combatting the hybrid war of the Russian Federation including counteracting Russian disinformation, furthering Euro-Atlantic processes and reforms in Ukraine, and providing Ukraine with humanitarian aid.
The UWC President and AUOG President Lesya Shramko presented Certificates of Acknowledgement to Member of the European Parliament Rebecca Harms “for her strong support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and Euro-integration, and the aspirations of the Ukrainian people, including the Ukrainian community in Germany”, and to Former President and Vice President of the AUOG Roman Rokytskyy “for significant contribution to the development of the Association of Ukrainian Оrganizations in Germany.”
On 10 December 2016, Eugene Czolij extended greetings and presided over the Second Biennial General Meeting of the AUOG attended by representatives and delegations of 14 AUOG member organizations from across Germany, and 25 guests from Germany and Ukraine. The delegates discussed and adopted the work of the AUOG for the reporting period, approved the priorities going forward and elected the following AUOG Board: Lesya Shramko (President), Rostyslaw Sukennyk (First Vice President), Andreas Kaprocki (Second Vice President), Yuliya Wiesendanger (Treasurer) and Iryna Hrytsiuk (Secretary); as well an Audit Committee as follows: Andrij Nesmasznyj (Chair) and Roman Rokytskyy and Jurij Ciurak (Members).
The UWC President also participated in a round table discussion on the topic “Information war against Ukraine and the role of the Ukrainian diaspora and migrants in Germany,” moderated by Lesya Shramko. Co-presenters of the round table included Rebecca Harms, Roman Rokytskyy and President of the Open Dialogue Foundation Lyudmyla Kozlovska.
On 11 December 2016, Eugene Czolij visited St. Nicholas Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church where he delivered remarks and met with the parish priest, Fr. Serhii Dankiv.
“I congratulate the newly-elected leadership of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Germany led by Lesya Shramko and look forward to further strengthening the cooperation of the Association with the Ukrainian World Congress,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
