Ukrainian World Congress President met with high-ranking officials of Italy and the Vatican

On 24 April 2017, in the framework of commemorations marking the 50^th anniversary of the UWC, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij met with high-ranking officials of Italy and the Vatican.

During the meetings the UWC President urged Italian governing authorities to support the extension of sanctions against the Russian Federation until it fully complies with the Minsk agreements and to officially recognize the Holodomor of 1932-33 as a genocide of the Ukrainian people. Eugene Czolij highlighted the plight of Ukrainian political prisoners being unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation in Crimea, Eastern Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and called for monitoring of the situation with added pressure on the Russian Federation to stop violating human rights. He also emphasized the need to deploy an OSCE police mission to Eastern Ukraine and a monitoring mission to Crimea. In addition, the UWC President underscored the importance of finalizing the ratification process for the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and implementing the visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens.

Eugene Czolij presented to MonsignorAntoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for Vatican Relations with States, the Resolutions of the 2016 UWC Annual General Meeting that include a call for the recognition of the Patriarchal status of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. They also discussed humanitarian initiatives to help Ukraine in view of Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea.

During his visits in Rome the UWC President was joined by Ambassador of Ukraine to the Holy See Tetiana Izhevska, Councellor at the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy Dmytro Volovnikov and Director of the UWC Mission to International Organizations in Brussels Maryna Iaroshevych.

“The Ukrainian World Congress encourages Italy and the Vatican to continue supporting the people of Ukraine as they protect our fundamental values,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.

A report on the visit to the Vatican is available HERE.

List of individuals with whom the UWC President met:

Monsignor Camilleri Antoine, Under-Secretary for Vatican Relations with States

Cicchitto Fabrizio, President, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Assembly of the Deputies of Italy

Di Giovanni Francesca, Secretary of State responsible for migration and humanitarian issues, Holy See

De Sanctis Guido, Head of the Department on Russia, Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia in Italy

Izhevska Tetiana, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Holy See

Kulbokas Visvaldas, Director, Department on Eastern Europe, Holy See

McGovern Peter, Ambassador of Canada in Italy

Perelygin Yevhen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine in Italy

Pirnot Anthony, External Political Chief, Embassy of the United States of America in Italy