Emine Dzhaparova: The Crimea Platform is an International Instrument to Counter Russian occupation Consequences and Promote De-occupation of Crimea
20 May 2021 20:04
First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova took part in a webinar «Current Developments in Russian-occupied Crimea: Human Rights Situation and Russia’s Military Buildup».
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the University of Ottawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada organized the event.
Emine Dzhaparova said that Russia’s unlawful policies require the strengthening and consolidation of international community efforts to effectively counter and respond to them. “With this aim, Ukraine establishes the Crimea Platform, which is a part of the de-occupation strategy and a key international instrument to promote the process of Crimea's return to Ukraine”.
She thanked Canada for its support of the initiative and expressed hope for Canada's participation in the Crimea Platform Inaugural Summit at a high level.
“We invite our partners to an active cooperation at various levels in order to achieve the ultimate goal of the Platform – the de-occupation of Crimea and its reintegration with Ukraine,” Emine Dzhaparova added.
The First Deputy Minister also drew attention to an active militarization of the occupied peninsula by Russia, which creates new security threats for Ukraine, the Azov-Black Sea region, the Balkans, and the Southern Mediterranean.
Emine Dzhaparova also expressed gratitude to Canada for the Global Affairs Canada Statement in support of the Ukrainian Crimea and the Crimean Tatars, issued on the eve of the Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of the Crimean Tatar People.
“The Russian Federation pursues the worst practices of the totalitarian Soviet regime, which committed the crime of genocide against the Crimean Tatars 77 years ago. During the years of occupation, Russia has turned Crimea into a territory of disregard for human dignity and gross human rights violations: repressive campaigns continue on the peninsula, the Mejlis is banned, political persecution and imprisonment go on, residents are deprived of their rights for land ownership, and colonization policy is pursued via an artificial change in the demographic composition of the peninsula, religious rights are violated and cultural heritage is destroyed”, she stressed.
Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea prof. Anton Korynevych also participated in the webinar. He elaborated on the Strategy of de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied Crimea.
