The fourth day of work on the sidelines of the 147th IPU Assembly: Ukrainian parliamentary delegation headed by the First Deputy Speaker held a number of meetings and took part in the general debate
On October 23-27, the Ukrainian delegation headed by First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko is on a working visit to the Republic of Angola.
On the fourth day of the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Ukrainian delegates held a number of important meetings on the sidelines of the Assembly and took part in the general debate.
During the meetings, Ukrainian MPs emphasized a number of important issues, including the implementation of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula, food security and awareness of responsibility for it, as well as the current situation in Ukraine — russian missile attacks, their consequences and the russian federation's crimes against the Ukrainian people.
"A just victory in Ukraine and peace on our territory is one of the key elements for global security. And it is our common task with the international community to achieve this," the First Vice Speaker emphasized.
Meetings with representatives of foreign delegations
During a meeting with the delegation of Kenya, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine invited the country to join the Second International Summit on Food Security. He expressed the expectation that the country would join international efforts aimed at preventing russia's attempts to violate international obligations and blackmail the world with new food crises. At the same time, Oleksandr Korniyenko spoke about the successful holding of the International Summit on Food Security in Kyiv and the launch of the humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine.
Ukrainian delegates discussed with the President of the National Assembly of Cape Verde, Austelin Tavares, the country's recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people. "This is a step to restore historical justice and honor the memory of the victims. And we see how Cape Verde is close to voting for the relevant decision. We hope that it will be adopted," emphasized the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
During a meeting with Sam Young, the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights, Complaints and Investigations of the Senate of Cambodia, Oleksandr Korniyenko noted the deepening of parliamentary cooperation. The parties discussed work in international arenas, in particular, within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "Ukraine is a guarantor of food security, and we continued to export despite all the conditions," he said. At the same time, the Ukrainian delegation emphasized the importance of implementing the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine and recognizing the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the Ukrainian people.
The Ukrainian parliamentary delegation also met with the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, Alban Kingsford Sumani Bagbin. "Ghana is our largest ally in the UN among African countries," said the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, noting the importance of their visit to Kyiv. "Our countries have very good prospects and numerous opportunities for further strengthening friendly relations and bilateral cooperation," he added, saying that Maryna Bardina, Head of the Verkhovna Rada's Group for Interparliamentary Relations with the Republic of Ghana, is already establishing cooperation.
During a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament, Milton Dick, the parties discussed the next arms supplies. The First Deputy Speaker emphasized the importance of the supplies in Ukraine's struggle, and also informed about energy security and the likely situation in the winter. In addition, Oleksandr Korniyenko emphasized the need for air defense for Ukrainian cities to protect themselves from enemy attacks. In conclusion, he expressed gratitude to Australia for its military and financial support of Ukraine.
Also, on the sidelines of the 147th IPU Assembly, Ukrainian parliamentary delegates met with representatives of France and Malaysia.
In addition, Oleksandr Merezhko, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, took part in a meeting of the Committee on Interaction with the UN. "The UN reform is a long-overdue issue that needs to be urgently addressed," he emphasized, noting that the Inter-Parliamentary Union can help.
Ukrainian delegates delivered speeches at the Assembly's general debate
"We all want peace, so that our children do not have to be afraid and do not cry at the sound of bombs exploding nearby. We all want justice, because when our home is destroyed by an invader, we need to rebuild it. We all want strong institutions, because we want our rights to be protected and for the truth to prevail," said the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniyenko during his speech at the debates of the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
The First Vice Speaker noted that recent armed conflicts have undermined efforts to achieve global peace. "As I speak, the russians continue to launch missiles and shoot at Ukrainian soldiers and civilians," he said.
At the same time, Oleksandr Korniyenko emphasized that russians are deporting Ukrainian children and destroying Ukrainian cities: "This is not peaceful. It is not fair. No strong institutions can stop this madness."
"Each of us can stand up and tell the truth — aggression is a crime. Each of us can return home and lobby our countries to join the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy," the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine emphasized, noting that the Ukrainian peace plan provides for the end of the war, in accordance with international law, the establishment of a tribunal for the crime of aggression, compensation for damages, the exchange of prisoners of war, environmental protection and the safety of nuclear power plants.
"russia's aggression against Ukraine is not about the West and the East, nor about the North and the South. The war unleashed by the russian federation is about colonization and suppression of human rights. It is against all of us," emphasized Zhan Beleniuk, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Youth and Sports, in his speech, calling on all the parliamentarians present and their countries to support Ukraine and together build a just world without imperialism and oppression.
For her part, Lesia Vasylenko, the member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, called on parliamentarians around the world to join the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula during the general debate on the global food crisis. In particular, she spoke about the initiative of the Office of the President of Ukraine “Grain From Ukraine”, which is a solution to save at least five million people from hunger.
At the same time, Lesia Vasylenko emphasized that Ukraine is capable of exporting up to 40 million tons of grain per year, but over the past year it has managed to export only slightly less than one million due to russia's shelling of Ukrainian ports and the blockade of the Black Sea. "On July 17 this year, russia withdrew from the grain corridor, which it had been sabotaging before, finding new reasons not to let grain ships go," she emphasized, noting that Ukraine has already found a solution and is looking for even better ones.
"It's a pity that when Ukraine accounts for 10% of the world's wheat exports, 13% of barley, 15% of corn, and 50% of sunflower oil, we cannot share what we have with the world because our neighbor uses food as a weapon," said the Ukrainian MP, adding that the amount of harvested crops has almost halved.
She also said that the actions of the russian army have consequences far beyond Ukraine: "In Asia, rice prices have risen. In Africa, there is a real risk of famine returning. This is especially true for Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia, whose food security depends on stable supplies of our grain."
For reference. On 23-27 October, the Ukrainian delegation headed by the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko is on a working visit to the Republic of Angola.
The programme of the visit includes participation of the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the 147th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in the Angolan capital Luanda.
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.