On 13-16 November 2016 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij held a series of official meetings with high-ranking officials of the European Union (EU), NATO and Belgium on the issues of support for Ukraine and securing global peace and security.
The UWC President highlighted the importance of joint effective actions of the international community in the fight against the aggression of the Russian Federation which, grossly disregarding international law and its commitments, illegally occupied Crimea and continues its military actions in Eastern Ukraine. Eugene Czolij noted that by defending its territorial integrity, Ukraine is in fact stopping the advancement of Russian imperialism to the West. He called upon the EU and NATO to support Ukraine and to strengthen and extend targeted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation until it fully complies with the Minsk agreements and de-occupies Crimea. In addition, the UWC President highlighted the importance of firmly defending the human rights of the residents of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine and Ukrainians in the Russian Federation.
The UWC President urged the EU to look for ways to complete the ratification process of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement without modifying this agreement and to immediately implement a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens taking into account the fulfillment of all criteria by Ukraine.
In addition, Eugene Czolij focused attention on the electronic declaration of assets by Ukrainian civil servants which was a significant step in the battle with corruption.
Eugene Czolij also met with the community of St. Volodymyr the Great Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
The UWC President was accompanied during the visit to Belgium by the UWC Liaison Officer for International Organizations Maryna Iaroshevych.
“The Ukrainian World Congress welcomes the decision of the Permanent Representatives Committee of the Council of the European Union from 17 November 2016 confirming support for visa-free travel for citizens of Ukraine and calls upon the European Parliament to conclude the process with its affirmative decision,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
Note:
On 17 November 2016, the Permanent Representatives Committee, on behalf of the Council of the European Union, confirmed the European Commission proposal to provide for visa-free travel for EU citizens when travelling to Ukraine and for citizens of Ukraine when travelling to the EU, for a period of a stay of 90 days in any 180-day period.
List of individuals with whom the UWC President met:
Austrevicius Petras, Member of the European Parliament, Vice-Chair of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Head of the EU-Ukraine Friendship Group
Ballek Ladislav, Counsellor to the Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to the EU
Boni Michał, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
Bozhok Yehor, Acting Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO
Brok Elmar, Member of the European Parliament, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Buzek Jerzy, Member of the European Parliament, Former President of the European Parliament, Chair of the Conference of Committee Chairs, Мember of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Van Calster Anick, Director General for Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium
Combe Matthieu, Adviser on Eastern Europe and Central Asia to the Permanent Representative of France to the EU
Costello Daniel J., Ambassador of Canada to the EU
Crampes Julien, Adviser for External Policies, Cabinet of the President of the European Parliament
Czarnecki Ryszard, Vice-President of the European Parliament
Devigne Luc, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia and OSCE, Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia European External Action Service
Fotyga Anna Elżbieta, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence
Gardner Anthony Luzzatto, Ambassador of the United States to the EU
Gottemoeller Rose, NATO Deputy Secretary General
Gahler Michael, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Hartzell Carl, Senior Adviser, Cabinet of the President of the European Council
Harms Rebecca, Member of the European Parliament,Co-President of the Greens/European Free Alliance
Hobbs David, NATO Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General
Kelam Tunne, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
Luciolli Fabrizio W., President of the Atlantic Treaty Association
Orłowski Tomasz, Counsellor to the Polish Permanent Representative to the EU, Head of EU External Relations
Portman Giles, Head of the East Stratcom Task Force, European External Action Service
Pomianowski Jerzy, Executive Director, European Endowment for Democracy
Saryusz-Wolski Jacek, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Member of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee
Tochytskyi Mykola, Ambassador of Ukraine to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, Ambassador of Ukraine to Belgium
Wagner Peter, Head of the Support Group for Ukraine, European Commission
Wallau Alexander, Counsellor to the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the EU
Wiseman Jason, Secretary General of the Atlantic Treaty Association
Fr. Zymak Oleh, Pastor of St. Volodymyr the Great Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Brussels and Paris
In the photo from left: R. Gottemoeller and E. Czolij
