“The demonstration of the number of people and parliaments participating in the Second Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform shows that the interest is not fading. This time, almost 70 parliaments and parliamentary assemblies representing five continents are taking part in the Summit,” said Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk on the air of the national telethon “United News”.
On 23-24 October 2023, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk is on an official visit to the Czech Republic, where the International Crimea Platform Parliamentary Summit will be held for the second time.
“It is very important for us that everyone who comes to Prague today comes for the sake of Ukraine, talks about Ukraine, the war, Crimea, the philosophy and architecture of security,” said the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine. He added that it is crucial that the dialogue on these topics continues at the parliamentary level, as parliaments make some of the most important decisions at the level of their countries to support Ukraine.
In addition, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed that this time a very important area of inter-parliamentary diplomacy will be opened – the countries of the Global South. “A new page is beginning – it is already yielding its first results. The voting in the UN of some countries of the Global South is changing, we are actively working with the countries of Latin America, Africa and Asia,” he said. The Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine stressed that russia has traditionally had strong relations with the Global South, and this must be changed: “Instead of russian propaganda, we need to promote other narratives, narratives of reality, narratives of truth, and this requires direct communication with the parliamentarians of these countries.”
At the same time, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine noted that during the bilateral meetings during the official visit, he would focus on a number of topics, including the de-occupation of the Crimean peninsula, further support for the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, Ukraine’s path to the EU and NATO, and the implementation of the President Zelenskyi’s Peace Formula.
“We will raise absolutely all topics related to the restoration of Ukraine, because it is very important for us that the world does not remain silent and does not lose interest. That is why we are all here today,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk, stressing that the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – “all pro-Ukrainian forces that will communicate on Ukraine at the inter-parliamentary level” – is currently in Prague.
“It is time for frank conversations and frank decisions. Any conflict must immediately have a reaction from the international community. The international community should not be indifferent, because indifference encourages the aggressor,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.