On 27 August 2016 the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) concluded its three-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place at the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. 184 delegates and guests from 26 countries participated in the AGM which officially opened on 25 August 2016.
The official portion of the AGM started with prayers led by the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate His Holiness Patriarch Filaret and the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church His Beatitude Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), and a tribute to Ukrainian heroes, who fought for an independent Ukraine, followed by a performance of “Plyve Kacha” by the “Dnipro” Choir.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by the Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy. Participants of the AGM were also greeted by the Minister of Culture of Ukraine Yevhen Nyschuk, Acting Minister of Health of Ukraine Dr. Ulana Suprun, Rector of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University Dr. Leonid Hubersky, Members of Parliament of Ukraine Refat Chubarov, Valeriy Patskan and Ivan Krulko, Special Envoy of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights Mykola Kuleba, Director of the International Institute for Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations of the National University “Lviv Polytechnic” Dr. Iryna Kluchkovska and Prorector for Academic Works of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv Dr. Roman Gladyshevskii.
The AGM also received written greetings from the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, President of the National Olympic Committee Sergey Bubka and Rector of the National University “Lviv Polytechnic” Dr. Yuriy Bobalo.
UWC President Eugene Czolij delivered an address before AGM participants highlighting the main aspects of the work done and the key priorities for the Ukrainian diaspora led by the UWC which are currently focused on assisting Ukraine in the defence of its independence and territorial integrity.
Over the course of three days AGM participants had the opportunity to hear reports on UWC activities from the past year and discuss future plans during five roundtable discussions: “Coordinating support for Ukraine,” “UWC humanitarian initiatives in aid of Ukraine,” “Promoting a positive image of Ukraine,” “Celebrating UWC’s 50th anniversary,” and “Supporting the economic development of Ukraine.”
The following individuals participated in the roundtables: Acting Minister of Health of Ukraine Dr. Ulana Suprun, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Nataliya Mykolska, Special Envoy of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights Mykola Kuleba, Member of Parliament of Ukraine and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine Hanna Hopko, Member of Parliament of Ukraine and Head of the Permanent Delegation of Ukraine to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Artur Gerasymov, Ambassador of Canada in Ukraine Roman Waschuk, Ambassador of Ukraine in Australia Mykola Kulinich, Advisor to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Maryana Kahanyak, Director of the International Institute for Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations Dr. Iryna Kluchkovska, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine Andriy Hunder, Project Coordinator for Monitoring Human Rights Violations in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea of the NGO “Centre for civil liberties” Oleksandra Romantsova, President and Chief Executive Officer Western NIS Jaroslawa Johnson, President of Caritas Ukraine Andriy Waskovych, General manager (CEO) of Kleynod Oleksiy Zolotarov, President of the Association of Ukrainian Women in America Marianna Zajac, President of the Charitable Foundation “Nove Pokolinnia” Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj, General Manager of the Karpaty Credit Union in Australia Jaroslaw Duma, President of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Germany Lesya Shramko, UWC Secretary General and President of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations Stefan Romaniw, UWC Treasurer and President of the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce Zenon Potichny, UWC Vice President and President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Paul Grod, UWC Vice President Olena Koszarny, Chair of the UWC International Council for Media Relations Irene Mycak, Chair of the UWC International Council for Cultural Affairs Anna Kisil, and UWC Director of Humanitarian Initiatives Victor Hetmanczuk.
Upon concluding three days of deliberations delegates adopted resolutions that will guide the future activities of the UWC.
During the AGM, delegates led by UWC President Eugene Czolij laid flowers at monuments to Taras Shevchenko, victims of the Holodomor, and Nebesna Sotnia Heroes.
AGM delegates also participated in an evening celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine organized by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv.
“The Ukrainian World Congress AGM was very successful and set the course for our future work,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
