March 30, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
UWC PRESIDENT MEETS WITH UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY IN POLAND
The President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Eugene Czolij was in Warsaw from March 18 to 20, 2011 where he met the Ukrainian community in Poland.
On March 18, the UWC President visited the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Josaphat where he met with parish priest Fr. Petro Kushka, provincial superior Fr. Ihor Harasym and Ukrainian community leaders. During the meeting, Eugene Czolij became acquainted with their community and religious life and discussed the upcoming national census in Poland.
The UWC President then visited the Embassy of Ukraine in Poland where he met with Ambassador Markian Malsky and raised the issue of the return of the National Centre (Narodny Dim) in Przemysl to the Ukrainian community.
Later that day, Eugene Czolij paid his respects at the Taras Shevchenko monument.
On March 19, the UWC President and the Secretary of the Union of Ukrainians of Poland Myroslaw Kupicz visited the Ukrainian Saturday School. During his meeting with Director Isabella Krachewska and School Guardian, the Head of the Union of Ukrainian Women in Poland, Kateryna Sirotska, the UWC President was informed about this educational institution and the state of Ukrainian education in Poland. In his address to the school’s students Eugene Czolij spoke about the importance of Ukrainian education for their future.
On March 20, the UWC President attended Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Josaphat. Afterwards, he addressed the Ukrainian community about UWC’s activities in the last year, placing special emphasis on its work in defending the rights and freedoms of Ukrainians in Ukraine and the Diaspora. He also highlighted the importance for Ukrainians in Poland to be active in Ukrainian community life and the social and political life of their country.
While in Warsaw, the UWC President was interviewed by the weekly newspaper Nashe Slovo, Radio Liberty and Polish Radio’s Ukrainian Desk.
