February 1, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
UKRAINIAN WORLD CONGRESS CALLS UPON THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF UKRAINE TO CEASE ITS INITIATIVES TO ESTABLISH A NEW UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN RUSSIA
In accordance with media reports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has released information on its initiative to establish a new Ukrainian community organization in Russia.
In addition, the media has also reported negative comments by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine about the two largest Ukrainian organizations in Russia – the Federal National Cultural Autonomy of Ukrainians of Russia and the Union of Ukrainians in Russia.
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) draws attention to the fact that these comments by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine were made at a time when pressure continues to be exerted by Russian authorities on these community organizations as they defend before Russian courtsthe right to continue their activities.
The UWC calls upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to cease its criticism of the Federal National Cultural Autonomy of Ukrainians of Russia and the Union of Ukrainians in Russia and instead, to defend these organizations. The UWC also calls upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to cease its initiatives to establish a new Ukrainian community organization in Russia.
“The Ukrainian World Congress issues a reminder that any initiatives to establish Ukrainian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should be driven by Ukrainian communities, not by government structures”, stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
