19 September 2011, 12:04
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Lytvyn calls for coordinated and uncompromising actions to fight manifestations of anti-Semitism, racism, and national intolerance.
Opening the special sitting of the Inter-parliamentary coalition on fighting anti-Semitism, V.Lytvyn expressed his hopes that this event will make a considerable contribution on behalf of the parliaments to the eradication of anti-Semitism, all forms of racism and national intolerance.
The Head of the Parliament is convinced that the parliament should take measures "to eliminate this negative phenomenon which is becoming noticeable in our complicated times." According to the Head of the Parliament, "instead of solving the problems, people are searching for enemies and the guilty, and usually they find them, as history and modern age show."
V. Lytvyn stated that out of 6 million of Jewish people killed during Holocaust period, 1.5 million were killed in the territory of Ukraine. He emphasized that Ukrainian people "will always have to remember this tragedy, and both politicians and ordinary citizens will never let it be forgotten."
"However, I am convinced that campaigns are inadmissible here", V. Lytvyn stated. "We need a constant, living and active memory. We shall not control history consciousness; we shall cultivate people´s consciousness to live in peace." "Apart from the conferences as we have today, we need coordinated and harmonized practical actions. Such issues do not require compromise, since we discuss a human right to life and right to memory", he stressed.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine reminded that according to the resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ukraine will honor the 70th anniversary of Babyn Yar tragedy on the state level. The parliament also established the annual day of commemoration of Holocaust tragedy, and will initiate a broad program of national commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust tragedy.
The Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament also announced that a memorial museum will be established in the area Babyn Yar tragedy under assistance of the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. It should resemble international research-educational centers such as Yad Vashem - World Center for Holocaust Research and Education in Jerusalem, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Shoah Memorial - Museum, and Center of contemporary Jewish documentation in Paris.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine attaches great importance to the legislative development and consistent implementation of legislative programs, such as laws on fighting anti-Semitism, discrimination and intolerance. He focused on the inconsistent use of applicable laws, which violates equal rights based on racial, national and religious origin.
V. Lytvyn also believes that adoption of "efficient Laws on fighting intolerance" is utterly essential for Ukraine, as our state "is a multi-national, multi-confessional and pluralistic political society, which lives through numerous public protests and collision of different points of view."
According to the Head of the Parliament, Ukraine will develop educational materials on Holocaust, racism, anti-Semitism and national discrimination which will be integrated into the national school curriculum.
V. Lytvyn attaches great importance to efficient legislation, parliamentary and executive control over the threats and challenges disguised in modern communication forms such as satellite TV, Internet and electronic media.
"The greatest conclusion is that we shall work for the future. Moreover, we shall learn to predict events in the world and respond adequately", V. Lytvyn stated. "It is obvious that we shall not try to change the world, but we shall make it better and more humane."