Ukrainian delegation headed by the First Vice Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko has started work at the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
On 23-27 October, the Ukrainian delegation headed by the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko is on a working visit to the Republic of Angola. In particular, the programme of the visit provides for the delegates’ intensive participation in events on the sidelines of the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
First of all, before the Assembly, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko outlined the purpose of the working visit in an interview with the Portuguese newspaper Lusa – “to do everything together with the world to ensure that no conflicts and aggressions ever happen again”. “Security and peace in Ukraine are among the main things on the way to this goal,” he stressed.
“The escalation of conflicts on the planet, unfortunately, distracts the global community from the war in Ukraine, but our task is to show the common features of these events through amendments to resolutions, negotiations and speeches. In particular, we are focusing on the problems of exploitation, violence and illegal adoption of children from the war zone, holding a thematic exhibition and lobbying for proposals to the General Assembly resolutions,” said Oleksii Zhmerenetskyi, a member of the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy. He stressed that the parliamentary delegates would promote the issue of restoring the UN’s capacity, in particular, eliminating russia’s illegal participation and fair representation of the entire international community in the UN Security Council. “We are fighting to organise special hearings and a resolution of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee on this topic at the next congress,” said Zhmerenetskyi.
A number of important meetings were held with the IPU President and delegations from Brazil, South Africa and the United Kingdom
On the sidelines of the event, the Ukrainian parliamentary delegates met with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Duarte Pacheco. They expressed their gratitude for the support and powerful personal contribution to strengthening Ukraine’s international authority. “We appreciate every step, every decision and action for the sake of the Ukrainian people,” stressed Oleksandr Korniienko.
During a meeting with Brazilian Federal Deputy Claudio Cajado, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine focused on the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and invited Brazil to participate in its implementation. The delegates also discussed specific items with their colleagues, including food security. At the same time, Oleksandr Korniienko stressed the importance of and hope for the recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people by the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress of Brazil.
“Brazil’s position is gradually changing in the right direction. In the UN General Assembly, Brazil supports resolutions in defence of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. Brazil can become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, but only if it actively opposes aggression and supports the victim of aggression,” said Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation.
During the meeting with the representatives of the Republic of South Africa, the First Vice-Speaker informed his colleagues about the current security situation in Ukraine, in particular, the recent missile attacks and their consequences. Oleksandr Korniienko also spoke in detail about the grain initiative, as Ukraine has been exporting grain despite systematic obstruction by the terrorist state. At the same time, he expressed his expectation that South Africa would join international efforts to prevent russia’s attempts to violate international obligations and blackmail the world with new food crises.
The parliamentary delegation led by Oleksandr Korniienko had a dialogue with the UK delegation about the challenges of this winter and the possible needs resulting from the missile attacks on infrastructure. The First Deputy Speaker drew attention to the issue of Ukrainian children forcibly deported to the territory of the russian federation and actions to bring them all home to their families. In addition, the parties discussed weapons production, which is one of the key factors for the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories and the establishment of a just peace.
On the sidelines of the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine also took part in the inaugural ceremony and reception in honour of the President of the Republic of Angola, Joao Lourenco.
Exhibition “War in the voices of children”
On the sidelines of the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which begins its work in Angola on Monday, 23 October, the Ukrainian delegation has placed an exhibition of children’s drawings – “War in the Voices of Children”. The official opening of the exhibition will take place during the Assembly’s work on Wednesday, 25 October.
The exhibition is dedicated to the Ukrainian-russian war and aims to draw the attention of parliamentary delegates to the deportation and abduction of Ukrainian children by a terrorist country.
In addition, the Ukrainian delegation plans to hold an event within the framework of the IPU “Life Without Borders: Honouring the memory of children lost in war”.
Election of the new President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
Finally, at the end of the Assembly’s work, the election of the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union will take place. In particular, discussions have already begun on the candidates for the post, which is being sought by representatives of Senegal, Tanzania, Somalia and Malawi.
“It is of fundamental importance to us that the candidate who has a clear position against russian aggression becomes the President of the IPU,” stressed Oleksandr Merezhko.
Election of parliamentary delegates to positions within the IPU
On the first day of the 147th IPU Assembly, Oleksandr Merezhko, the Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, was elected to the Bureau of the Peace and Security Committee, and Artur Gerasymov was elected to the Bureau of the Sustainable Development Committee. Lesia Vasylenko, a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, represented both candidates, who received unanimous support, before the 12+ geopolitical group.
The parliamentary delegation also includes: the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation Oleksandr Merezhko, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Youth and Sports Zhan Beleniuk, the Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management Lesia Vasylenko, the Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation Olha Rudenko, the Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy Oleksii Zhmerenetskyi, the Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy Oleksandr Sanchenko, and Dmytro Shpenov, the Member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy.
For reference. The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a global organisation of national parliaments. Currently, 162 parliaments of the world are members of this organisation.
The Inter-Parliamentary Union is primarily a political forum for members of national parliaments.
It is a unique institution that regularly brings together parliamentarians from all over the world, representing all types of government and the entire spectrum of political parties.