On 24 February 2017 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij concluded a two-day visit to Vienna, Austria, where he attended the 16th Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and held a series of working meetings with high-ranking officials of the OSCE and Austria, and representatives of civil society.
On 23 February 2017 the UWC President addressed a Side Event in the framework of the 16th Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE on the topic: “Strengthening energy security in the OSCE region.”
During the meetings, Eugene Czolij drew attention to the hybrid war of the Russian Federation and highlighted the threats of Russian aggression to Ukraine, as well as to peace and stability in the world. The UWC President called for the deployment of an OSCE police mission to Donbas and a monitoring mission to Crimea, and the strengthening of targeted economic sanctions against the Russian Federation until it fully complies with the Minsk agreements. In addition, Eugene Czolij called for the defence of human and national rights of residents of the illegally occupied by the Russian Federation Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, and concrete action for the release by the Russian Federation of Ukrainian political prisoners, including journalists Roman Sushchenko and Mykola Semena.
The UWC President also met with the local Ukrainian community at the St. Barbara Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church hall in Vienna.
During his visit to Austria the UWC President was accompanied by Director of the UWC Mission to International Organizations in Brussels Maryna Iaroshevych.
“The Ukrainian World Congress will continue to actively cooperate with the international community to assist Ukraine in the defence of its territorial integrity,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
