TORONTO – Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij fulfilled a working visit to Kyiv on November 29-December 1, 2017, during which he discussed current Ukrainian issues and continued cooperation with high-ranking religious and state leaders of Ukraine, representatives of the international community, diplomats of various states and representatives of Ukrainian civil society.
He devoted particular attention during meetings with governing authorities to the coordination of further efforts by Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora led by the UWC in combating the hybrid war of the Russian Federation and the defense of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Discussed was the need for the international community to strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation until it fully complies with the Minsk agreements and de-occupies Crimea, and to deploy a United Nations peacekeeping mission to eastern Ukraine and an OSCE monitoring mission to illegally occupied Crimea.
Also discussed was the need to urge European countries to adopt a Magnitsky law that would contribute to lessening human rights violations. Highlighted was the importance of providing Ukraine with an investment package similar to the Marshall Plan to overcome the devastation caused by Russian military aggression and to assist Ukraine with its economic growth and continued reforms.
Mr. Czolij also had the opportunity to discuss the processes of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as reforms in various spheres, including efforts to reduce the level of corruption and advance the progressive changes in Ukraine’s health care and education systems, and address the concerns of some countries regarding the law of Ukraine “On Education.”
Another common issue was the joint commemoration in 2018 in Ukraine and throughout the Ukrainian diaspora of the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-1933.
Separately with both the ambassador of Hungary to Ukraine, Ernő Keskeny, and the head of the Hungarian Cultural Association Zakarpattia, National Deputy of Ukraine Vasyl Brenzovych, Mr. Czolij discussed Article 7 of the education law dealing with regional and minority languages.
The UWC president was accompanied to his meetings by the director of the UWC Mission in Ukraine, Serhiy Kasyanchuk, and the director of the UWC Mission to International Organizations in Brussels, Maryna Iaroshevych.
Among those with whom the UWC president met were: Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate; Blonde Piet, acting leader of the political section, Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine; Enberg Martin, representative of the secretary general of the Council of Europe in charge of the coordination of cooperation programs in Ukraine; Pavlo Klimkin, foreign affairs minister of Ukraine; Andriy Parubiy, chair of the Verkhovna Rada; Jan Pieklo, ambassador of Poland to Ukraine; Roman Waschuk Roman, ambassador of Canada to Ukraine; and Marie Yovanovitch, ambassador of the United States to Ukraine.