The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine took part in the Conference of the Heads of Foreign Diplomatic Missions of Ukraine
In the framework of the Conference of the Heads of Foreign Diplomatic Missions of Ukraine, during his participation in the plenary session “Parliamentary Diplomacy”, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk stressed a number of important issues.
In particular, the continuation of inter-parliamentary dialogue, cooperation with the countries of the Global South and the parliaments of Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as the development of a compensation mechanism and the implementation of the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
“After 24 February 2022, parliamentary diplomacy has become especially relevant, in particular, thanks to the work of embassies,” the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine stressed, adding that, despite the danger, Ukraine is regularly visited by distinguished foreign guests, true friends and partners. “We continue to work in coordination with the Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the heads of foreign parliamentary delegations,” said Ruslan Stefanchuk.
He also emphasised that an unprecedentedly high level of mutual understanding and support has been established with the parliaments of all Western countries neighbouring Ukraine, expressing gratitude for their comprehensive assistance.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted that cooperation with the countries of the Global South, especially with the parliaments of China, India, Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico, should be continued. He noted that it is important to intensify and strengthen cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the parliaments of Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, regions where russia continues to maintain influence and promote its narratives.
Ruslan Stefanchuk also expressed his gratitude for the work done by countries in imposing sanctions against the russian federation, recognising it as a terrorist state, as well as in bringing the perpetrators to justice and introducing a compensation mechanism. He stressed that the involvement of partners in the development and functioning of such a compensation mechanism will ensure that russia pays full compensation to Ukraine for all the damage caused.
In addition, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine stressed the importance of the international community recognising the Holodomor of 1932-33 as genocide of the Ukrainian people. “Over the past year, more and more foreign parliaments have adopted such decisions. It is important to keep working. The tragedy must be appreciated by the world and there must be a worldwide recognition of the Holodomor as genocide,” he stressed.
Ruslan Stefanchuk also raised the issue of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, noting that this is a strategic goal of Ukraine.
He also noted that one of the main priorities of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine’s international activities is the implementation of the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
In conclusion, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine stressed that over the past two years, everyone has seen how Ukraine has successfully applied massive multilevel and multifaceted diplomacy to achieve the goal of confronting the aggressor, achieving victory, as well as membership in the EU and NATO: “And this is an unprecedented case in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy, when a huge diplomatic synergy of the President, the Office of the President, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine was planned and involved.”
In the framework of the event, the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament also presented the diplomas of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the heads of foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine: the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Kuwait Oleksandr Balanuka, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Lithuania Petr Beshta, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Turkey Vasyl Bodnar, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Italy Yaroslav Melnyk, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Kenya Andrii Pravednyk and the Director of the Political Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Liubov Nepop.