On the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of Soviet troops withdrawal from the territory of Afghanistan, Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, as a participant of military operations in Afghanistan, visited the Ukrainian Hospital for Soldiers-Internationalist "Lisova Poliana."
Mykola Tomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, has been patronizing the single hospital in Ukraine for Afghan soldiers-internationalists for several years. M. Tomenko met Volodymyr Neroda, hospital chief executive, to discuss the necessary modern medical equipment, and observed the territory of the hospital. Meeting the hospital personnel, M. Tomenko declared, "The attempts to use the Afghan war veterans in the political interests of certain party should be stopped, while the medical treatment should be provided, the social rights and guarantees of the Afghan war veterans should be protected and all the necessary conditions should be arranged."
The Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine appealed to Supreme Commander-in-Chief - President of Ukraine with a request to protect all the social guarantees envisaged by the Law of Ukraine "On the Status of War Veterans, and Guarantees of their Social Security."
He received a number of appeals from Afghan war veterans who are afraid lest social guarantees should be cut down. First of all, it was caused by the submission of governmental bill on amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the Status of War Veterans, and Guarantees of their Social Security."
The Cabinet of Ministers registered the bill "On State Guarantees of Execution of Judgment" (Reg. No.4562) that amends certain Laws of Ukraine concerning rates and order of social guarantees, and privileges for several social groups, namely, the participants of the military actions. Under the bill, the privileges envisaged by the Law are granted "under the order established by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine." The Deputy Chairman of the Parliament is convinced that this approach arouses concern regarding implementation of the guarantees and privileges for the war veterans and other categories of population.
Mykola Tomenko stressed, "Most privileges for the participants of the military operations in Afghanistan are not being covered." According to him, the only effective privilege concerns public-utility services payment. "It is of vital importance for the families of former Afghan soldiers and especially for those who are not working and require special medical treatment", the politician stressed. "Thus the privileges envisaged in the governmental bill, submitted on the eve of 15th February, a memorable day for all the soldiers-internationalists, cast doubt even on those few privileges left for the former Afghan soldiers."
Meeting the fellow soldiers, Mykola Tomenko declared that he understood the criticism against those military officers who simply ‘visited´, in passing, the critical spots around the world but, in fact, enjoy the same social privileges as the Afghan war veterans.
He deems necessary to define the extent to which the state is ready to support the war veterans. "Otherwise, a famous expression of Soviet times popular after the Afghan war "Acting Government has not told us where to get on a fight, so now it can tell us where ‘to get off´", may be topical," M. Tomenko admitted.
The Deputy Chairman of the Parliament wished sound health to the former soldiers and stated that February 15 shall become the day of all the Afghan soldiers solidarity. "Those veterans who managed to fulfil their potential, and became successful in life shall not forget those who have no opportunities for this due to their illnesses or even disability", he is convinced. "The local authorities shall take care even of the families of those who have not returned from the war. When someone mentions the word "I served in Afghanistan", people will feel respect and honour, as these people have survived and proved that they are real fighters."