To the Lawyers of Ukraine
Please accept my sincere greetings on the occasion of the occupational holiday - the Lawyers Day.
This holiday confirms the importance and responsibility of the social status of people, whose occupation became one of the most demanded in the Ukrainian State in the period of its establishment and development. Celebration of the Lawyers Day calls for public honour and acknowledgement of such basic, fundamental concepts of life, as legitimacy and law, justice and truth.
Permanent social demand brightly confirms that there is a constant interest of the state in this profession as lawyers are working in all the vital spheres of the public life. Their work dynamically and efficiently supports all the areas of country´s development.
It is symbolic that the celebration of your occupational holiday took place not under the conditions of stagnation, but in the period of growing efficiency of essential national changes and reforms.
The lawyers´ activity has to be devoid of any ideological preconditions, being performed in accordance with the timeless and unchangeable generally acknowledged principles of law, one of the most fundamental ones being jus est boni acgui (law is the art of kindness and justice).
It is worth reminding that the European Court of Human Rights is guided by the principle of justice in the scrutiny and pronouncement of its judgments. Moreover, Ukraine, as well as entire Europe, will soon celebrate the 60th anniversary of signing the European Convention on Human Rights that laid foundation for the efficient tool for implementing international law the European Court of Human Rights. Supremacy of law is the fundamental principle of work of this Court. Any political implications or passing private interests are rejected.
To be a lawyer is a great honor and, without exaggeration, a great responsibility. There is no doubt that the modern Ukrainian legal school and its alumni are worthy of the glory of their predecessors and deserve to continue their traditions.
On this memorable day, I wish you all the best and courage in the service to the Law.
Volodymyr Lytvyn