Two years ago, on January 11, 2015, more than 40 global leaders, along with more than a million people in Paris (more than 3 million people across France), took part in the March of Unity. President Petro Poroshenko represented Ukraine in an act of solidarity to pay tribute to the murdered journalists of Charlie Hebdo in Paris and four people who were killed at Hyper Cacher, a Jewish supermarket, on January 7.
The violence was the result of Charlie Hebdo publishing a cartoon image of the prophet Mohammed.
Also attending the march were Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Francois Hollande of France, Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, EU President Donald Tusk of Poland, Prime Minister Victor Orban of Hungary, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov, officials of the European Parliament and the European Commission. U.S. Ambassador to France Jane D. Hartley represented the United States during the march.
Mr. Poroshenko stated: “The March of Unity has united all civilized countries of the world in France. Today, we are defending the values of democracy and freedom of speech together. I believe that humanism and unity will always overcome terror.”
Thousands of marchers carried placards that had become a social media slogan of unity and defiance, “Je suis Charlie.” Similar marches were held in London, Madrid, Cairo, Montreal, Beirut, Sydney and Tokyo.
The president laid flowers at the Embassy of France in Kyiv, signed the book of condolences at the Embassy and expressed deep sympathy and support to Ambassador Alain Remy. President Poroshenko stated: “Ukraine knows what the struggle against terrorism means,” as Ukraine has experienced “terrorist attacks in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions… Ukraine is grateful to France for its assistance and solidarity in the struggle against terrorism on the Ukrainian land. Ukraine supports France in its struggle against terrorism.”
Source: “Poroshenko takes part in March of Unity in Paris,” (Press Office of the President of Ukraine), The Ukrainian Weekly, January 18, 2015.