On 9 August 2017 in Canberra, Australia, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij delivered a public lecture at the Centre for European Studies of the Australian National University on the topic “EU attitudes towards former Warsaw Pact states and former Soviet republics”.
The UWC President noted that the Russian Federation is actively challenging the resolve of the international community with its military aggression against Ukraine and Georgia, destabilization activities against former Soviet republics, numerous cyber attacks and interference in the elections of independent states. Eugene Czolij focused on the situation in Eastern Ukraine that is particularly grave and requires immediate action on the part of the international community in order for Ukraine to overcome the military aggression of the Russian Federation and stop it from advancing further West. In this regard, the UWC President highlighted that the international community must remain united, firm and proactive, instead of reacting to the geopolitical agenda of the Russian Federation.
Eugene Czolij underlined that the EU and NATO should offer the prospect of membership to Eastern Partnership states, including Ukraine, as was done for former Warsaw Pact states at the end of the Cold War in order to secure lasting peace, security and stability in that region. The EU’s Eastern Partnership program needs to be aligned in that direction, and the EU should not deal with Eastern Partnership states through a prism of the Russian Federation.
The UWC President also noted that the ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement was an important success for the Eastern Partnership program that enhanced a number of concrete and tangible reforms in Ukraine, including those in relation to its battle with corruption.
The UWC President had the opportunity to discuss current issues with the Academic Coordinator of the Centre for European Studies, Australian National University, Dr. Katarzyna Williams, and with Visiting Fellow, Dr. Sonia Mycak.
“I thank the Centre for European Studies of the Australian National University for organizing this public lecture and look forward to our continued cooperation on issues of mutual interest,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
In the photo: E. Czolij speaking at Australian National University
