On Wednesday, 11 September, the fourth summit of the Crimean Platform was held in Kyiv, joined by more than 60 participants.
The main issues discussed at the summit were: preservation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, reintegration of territories temporarily occupied by Russia, release of civilian hostages, Ukraine’s achievements in the Black Sea region, and refuting myths about Crimea.
In addition to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the opening ceremony was attended by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina.
The head of state noted that thanks to the Crimea Platform it was possible to return and strengthen the world’s attention to the Russian occupation of Ukrainian Crimea.
‘We are now, particularly grateful to the Crimea Platform, thanks to all our diplomatic efforts, thanks to the resistance of our people, our warriors, we are absolutely clearly forcing Russia to face reality, namely international law, the power of world solidarity, as well as the need to restore full justice for Ukraine and, in the end, a reliable peace for all our land, for all our people,’ – he said.
Gitanas Nauseda stressed that Lithuania would never recognise the occupation of Ukrainian territories and would always demand that Russia withdraw its troops.
Andrejs Plenkovics gave assurances of further support for Ukraine, in particular assistance to the energy sector, demining, treatment of the military and recreation for Ukrainian children.
The Latvian prime minister said that all foreign leaders had come to personally participate in the fourth summit of the international Crimea Platform to confirm: Crimea is Ukraine and Russia is losing this war.
‘We are deeply convinced that Ukraine’s future lies in just peace, security and prosperity among other allies and partners in the Euro-Atlantic community,’ – Evika Silinya summarised.
It should be reminded that the CTRC experts are active participants of two working groups of the Crimean Platform expert network: ‘Restoration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a Tool for the Deoccupation of Crimea’ and ‘Economy and Ecology’. In particular, the Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre, member of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, coordinator of the working group ‘Restoration of the rights of indigenous peoples as a tool for deoccupation of Crimea’ – Eskender Bariiev joined the summit.
Meanwhile, our team will continue to promote active and consolidated work on the deoccupation of Crimea both at the national level and internationally.
Indeed, ensuring sustainable, clear and stable activities of both the entire Crimea Platform and its individual structures is the key to the early deoccupation and effective reintegration of Crimea, which is an important component in bringing Ukraine’s victory and ensuring sustainable peace.
Therefore, the CTRC launched the project ‘Civil Society for Victory and Restoration of Sustainable Development’, which aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Crimea Platform’s expert network in the context of Crimea’s reintegration by strengthening internal structures and developing strategic documents.
Let’s bring the return of Crimea together!
Photo: CTRC, Office of the President