On 14-16 April 2018, on the invitation of Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) member organization Association of the Ukrainian Diaspora in Greece “Ukrainian-Hellenic Thought”, UWC President Eugene Czolij fulfilled a visit to Athens and Piraeus, Greece, during which he furthered current Ukrainian issues in meetings with high-ranking governing authorities and civil society in Greece.
On 14 April 2018, the UWC President delivered an address during a commemorative event marking the 20th anniversary of the Association of the Ukrainian Diaspora in Greece “Ukrainian-Hellenic Thought” (Association) chaired by Halyna Masliuk and the 15th anniversary of Association’s Sunday school.
Eugene Czolij presented UWC Certificates of Recognition to President of the Association and Editor-in-Chief of the Association’s publication, Ukrainian-Hellenic Almanac Visnyk – Angeliaphoros, Halyna Masliuk; to the Association accepted by Secretary Natalia Ananevych; and to the Ukrainian Sunday school accepted by Director Hanna Pavlyuk.
On 15 April 2018, the UWC President attended Divine Liturgy at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church. He also attended liturgy at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish celebrated by Bishop Borys Gudziak, Eparch of St. Volodymyr the Great Eparchy in Paris for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland, and parish priest Fr. Andriy Tverdokhlib.
On this day, Eugene Czolij met with the leadership of the Association during which he familiarized himself with the specifics of Ukrainian community life and discussed the means to strengthen future cooperation with the UWC.
During meetings on 16 April 2018 with high-ranking governing officials and civil society of Greece, the UWC President drew attention to the hybrid aggression of the Russian Federation which occupied Crimea, continues to wage military actions in Eastern Ukraine and grossly violates the human rights of Ukrainians. Eugene Czolij highlighted the serious threat of the Russian Federation for the international community as well, demonstrated particularly by its powerful cyber-attacks, specifically the spreading of the NotPetya virus in Europe, Asia and America; meddling in elections, including in the U.S.A. and France; financing of politicians; destabilization processes in neighbouring countries; acts of terrorism; mass disinformation and the recent very dangerous chemical attacks. In conjunction, Eugene Czolij called upon Greece, an EU and NATO member state, to support the extension and strengthening of sanctions against the Russian Federation, and the Euro-integrational and Euro-Atlantic processes in Ukraine. During the course of meetings, the UWC President shared information on the significant accomplishments in reforming and modernizing Ukraine.
Eugene Czolij, together with Halyna Masliuk, presented the Diplomatic Representative of the Chair of the Parliament of Greece, Athanasios Theocharopoulos, with an appeal from Ukrainian organizations in Greece, including the Association, for the Parliament of Greece to recognize the Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.
With representatives of business in Greece Eugene Czolij discussed the tremendous economic potential of Ukraine and encouraged them to invest in Ukraine.
During the meetings in Greece the UWC President was accompanied by Association President Halyna Masliuk. Attending individual meetings was Chargé d’affaires of Ukraine in Greece Natalia Kosenko.
“The trip to Greece was productive and enabled discussion on the support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and its economic development,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
List of individuals with whom the UWC President met:
Bougas Gerassimos-Nikolaos, Secretary General of the Hellenic-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce
Cakioussis Constantin, Director A5 Directorate for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Caucasus, Black Sea Countries and Central Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece
Dokos Thanos, Director General of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy
Bishop Borys Gudziak, Eparch of St. Volodymyr the Great Eparchy in Paris for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland
Kokkiniotis Theodoros, President of the Piraeus Rotary Club
Korkidis Vassilis, President of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, President of Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Manesiotis Nikos, President of the Piraeus Traders Association
Morrill Keith, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to the Hellenic Republic
Piperigos Konstantinos, Minister Plenipotentiary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece
Theocharopoulos Athanasios, Diplomatic Representative of the Chair of the Parliament of Greece, Spokesperson for Democratic Coalition
Fr. Tverdokhlib Andriy, spiritual pastor for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Greece, Parish Priest of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Greek Catholic Parish
In the photo from left: E. Czolij and C. Cakioussis
