October 17, 2012
MEDIA RELEASE
UWC PRESIDENT MEETS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF ROMANIA
On October 8-10, 2012, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij travelled to Bucharest where he discussed important Ukrainian issues with the President, President of the Senate, President of the Chamber of Deputies, and Minister of Education of Romania.
During separate meetings with the President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, the President of the Senate of Romania, Crin Antonescu, and the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania, Valeriu Zgonea, the UWC President focused specific attention on the need for Ukraine’s Euro-integration and democratization. He also emphasized the benefits for both Europe and Ukraine of signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, as opposed to Ukraine joining the Eurasian economic union. The UWC President underscored the importance for the international community to continue emphasizing that the sole condition for the signing of this Agreement is a shift by Ukraine’s governing authorities from authoritarian to democratic governance. To help ensure a more honest and transparent electoral process in Ukraine, Eugene Czolij requested that Romania send an observer mission for the upcoming Parliamentary elections. He also encouraged Romania to recognize the 1932-33 Holodomor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people. In addition, the UWC President called for the governing authorities to give the Union of Ukrainians in Romania (UUR) access to sufficient funds to continue their normal activities. During a meeting with the Minister of Education, Ecaterina Andronescu, he highlighted the importance of introducing the topic of the Holodomor in Romania’s school curriculum.
Eugene Czolij also visited the UUR cultural-information centre, met members of the local Ukrainian community, and discussed current Ukrainian issues with the Ambassador of Ukraine in Romania, Teofil Bauer. The UWC President’s trip to Romania was organized by the UUR President and Member of Parliament Stefan Buciuta.
The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967 as a non-profit corporation, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.
