Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij has urged the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, to reconsider the recent amendment to the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance – Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation for the benefit of both the Ukrainian and Polish peoples, and peace and security in the region.
In a letter dated 16 February 2018, the UWC President expressed the great concern of the UWC and the 20-million strong Ukrainian diaspora it represents, including over one million Ukrainians living in Poland, over the legislation that was first adopted by the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland, and later signed into law on 6 February 2018. Eugene Czolij highlighted the fear that the new legislation will, by broadening the mandate of the Institute, further fuel animosity and hostilities between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples and in turn, support the persistent efforts of the Russian Federation to weaken the bond that exists between the two peoples and prevents its westward advance across European soil.
The UWC President also underscored the support of the UWC for the resolution of the Parliament of Ukraine in response to the new legislation which categorically rejects the policy of double standards and promoting the idea of collective responsibility of the Ukrainian people, and the Polish attempt to equate the actions of all fighters for the independence of Ukraine to the crimes of the two totalitarian regimes of the 20th century – Nazi and Communist.
“The Ukrainian World Congress firmly believes that the democratic privileges of research, education and open dialogue are fundamental to reconciliation and unity for the Polish and Ukrainian peoples, and thus urges Polish authorities to reconsider this legislation,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
