Statement of the deputy faction of the All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna” in connection with the Volyn tragedy of 1943

Secretariat of the deputy faction of the All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna”
Published on 08 July 2013, at 17:57

Ukrainian and Polish people are united by a thousand-year history of neighborly relations. For thousands of years relations between our nations were friendly, but there were also wars and conflicts in our common past caused by circumstances independent of the will of our people. The 20^th century is especially marked with dramatic events, the Volyn tragedy of 1943, a fratricide between Ukrainians and Poles, among them. Ukrainian-Polish opposition ended with deportation operations held by state structures under the banner of communist Poland Operation Vistula of 1947.

Hundreds of thousands of innocent people, particularly, women, children and elderly people became victims of the bloodshed, ethnic cleansing and deportation on both sides. Ukrainians, Poles and citizens of other nationalities became victims in Volyn.

“Batkivshchyna” faction honors memory of innocently killed Poles and feels deeply for the Ukrainian Party being crime-triggered by occupants. We honor memory of innocently killed Ukrainians.

“Batkivshchyna” faction positively treats the words of mutual forgiveness and reconciliation addressed to Ukrainians and Poles on the occasion of the 70^th anniversary of the Volyn tragedy on the part of churches and religious organizations of both states. This testifies not only to fidelity to the core values of their religious teachings, but also to building of common future of our countries in the united Europe.

“Batkivshchyna” faction calls on all political forces and public organizations of Ukraine and Poland not to speculate on the issue of Volyn tragedy and not to stir up emotions over the complicated pages of joint Ukrainian-Polish history. We call on to tell the truth about the past and to live the future, which can be seen in our common Ukrainian-Polish European destiny. We welcome the jointly proclaimed formula of Ukrainian-Polish reconciliation: “We forgive and beg for pardon!"