Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij concludes visit to Israel

On 30 June-3 July 2018, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij fulfilled a working visit to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel, to discuss current Ukrainian issues with the Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and high-ranking officials of Israel, and to meet with the Ukrainian community.

Eugene Czolij met with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, calling upon him to support the issuance of a Tomos of Autocephaly for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

During meetings with high-ranking officials, the UWC President drew attention to the continuing hybrid aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and its destructive consequences. In that context, the UWC President highlighted the threat of Russian hybrid aggression for peace and stability in the world, and called upon Israel to support Ukraine in the defence of its territorial integrity. Eugene Czolij also urged officials to finalize the signing and implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Israel for the benefit of both countries. In addition, the UWC President discussed with Israeli high-ranking officials that recent allegations of the rise in anti-semitism and Holocaust denial in Ukraine are unfounded. Separately, he noted this year’s 85th anniversary of the Holodomor in Ukraine and called for Israel to participate in commemorations and recognize the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people, following the lead of 17 countries.

With the specifics of the work of the Ukrainian community the UWC President familiarized himself during meetings with: Israeli Friends of Ukraine led by co-Chair Viacheslav Feldman, the leadership of the All-Israeli Association of Emigres from Ukraine including its Chair David Levin and members Valentina Chaikovska and Mila Fleitman, and Director of the Israeli Folklore Theatre Lena Jeiko. Eugene Czolij also had a separate public meeting with Ukrainians of Israel. These meetings offered an opportunity to discuss closer ties and cooperation with the UWC in furthering common interests.

Eugene Czolij also met with Ambassador of Ukraine in Israel Hennadii Nadolenko during which he presented the current priorities of the UWC and discussed the status of Ukraine-Israel bilateral cooperation.

While in Israel, the UWC President visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

During the visit to Israel, the UWC President was accompanied by Director of the UWC Mission to International Organizations in Brussels Maryna Iaroshevych.

“My first working visit to Israel was very productive,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij. “This visit enabled me to raise topical Ukrainian issues with governing authorities and develop Ukrainian World Congress ties with the Ukrainian community.” 

List of individuals with whom the UWC President met:

Elkin Zeev, Chairman of the Israeli part of the Joint Ukrainian-Israeli Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Knesset of Israel, Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage, Minister of Environmental Protection

Lion Joël, Ambassador, Director of Public and Academic Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Magen Zvi, Ambassador, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies

Meridor Dan, President of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations

Nadolenko Hennadii, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine in Israel

Neguise Avraham, Chairman of the Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs, Member of the Knesset of Israel

Ploskov Tali, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset of Israel, Chairman of the Israel-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group

Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem

 

UWC President Eugene Czolij’s interview with Israeli web channel TVF can be viewed HERE.

Information posted by the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel on the visit of UWC President Eugene Czolij is available HERE.

 

In the photo from left: Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III and E. Czolij

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