First Vice Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko urged to devote the Fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe to Ukraine
07 November 2022, 13:26
Oleksandr Korniienko supported the holding of the fourth summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in connection with the full-scale unprovoked war of Russia against Ukraine – the fourth in history after 1993, 1997 and 2005. He noted that “the decision of the Committee of Ministers to hold the fourth summit of the Council of Europe is more urgent and timely than ever”. He added that Ukraine is ready to actively engage at all levels and in all formats, in close cooperation with the Icelandic Presidency, in the preparation of the decisions of this historic summit.
The First Vice-Speaker stressed that he personally and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in general, as well as other governmental institutions, will do their best to make such a summit “as much about Ukraine as possible”. “We all have to deeply comprehend today’s tragic events in the centre of Europe, to approve important decisions on how the Council of Europe can protect human rights in the conditions of a long aggressive war, to prevent impunity of the aggressor, to prevent terror and genocide by the autocratic regime that seeks to preserve the fragments of the last empire,” Oleksandr Korniienko said.
Also, the First Vice-Speaker stressed that both main statutory bodies of the Council of Europe – the Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly – demonstrated remarkable political unity by adopting a decision on the expulsion and responsibility of the aggressor, as well as on the recognition of the current moscow political regime as a terrorist one.
“On behalf of the Ukrainian Parliament, I express my sincere gratitude to all the member states of the Council of Europe for their support and solidarity, invaluable practical assistance in countering the aggressor who challenged the civilized world, ignored international law, undermined the foundations of the world security system that had developed after the Second World War,” Oleksandr Korniienko emphasized.
In addition, the First Vice-Speaker raised the issue of the illegal forced evacuation of Ukrainians from Kherson region by russians, as well as the daily living conditions without electricity and water due to the recent shelling of energy facilities by russia, in which Ukraine and, in particular, Kyiv are now.
“I believe in our common Victory. After all, the current war is a war not only against Ukraine. This is a war against democracy and common values, against our common future, in which we will definitely win”, – summed up the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Kornienko.
For reference. In the framework of the trip, the First Vice Speaker takes part in the tenth annual World Forum for Democracy “Democracy: New Hope?”, organized by the Council of Europe. He will also hold a series of working meetings with representatives of European politicians and the Council of Europe establishment. At the same time, Oleksandr Korniienko, heading the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation, will participate in the High Level Dialogue “Good Democratic Governance in Ukraine: Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward in the Post-War Period”.