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Ambassador of Spain to Ukraine Visits Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People
21 September 2012
On September 21, 2012 the Leader of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Jemilev met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain to Ukraine H.E. Mr Jose Rodriguez Moyano.
The meeting, held in Mejlis’ office was attended by the First Vice Chairman of Mejlis, the President of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars Refat Chubarov, Head of the Department of foreign relations Ali Hamzin, Head of Bakhchisaray regional state administration Ilmi Umerov.
The Spanish ambassador was accompanied by the Secretary of Spanish embassy in Ukraine Mr Oriol Eskalas Noya and the Honored Consul of Spain in AR Crimea Alexander Balkhovitin.
“The main goal of my visit to this wonderful Ukrainian region – Crimea, where we are to hold the 3rd Congress of Ukrainian expert in the Spanish language and culture this year, is to study the history and culture of the peoples, living in the peninsular, as well as the prospects of the mutual cooperation between Spain and Crimea, and the high interest to the situation with the Crimean Tatar people,”- the Spanish ambassador to Ukraine Mr Jose Rodriguez Moyano said.
Addressing Mejlis’ Leader the Spanish ambassador thanked him for the opportunity to take the personal part in the 2nd annual meeting between the leaders of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and heads of the diplomatic missions and international organizations, accredited in Ukraine, held on September 18, 2012 in Kyiv.
“I think that Ukraine, that will chair in the OSCE in 2013 should include to the priority list of its agenda the item of holding the International Forum on the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people in its Homeland, ensuring its safety and guarantees of development in Ukraine,”- the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Spain to Ukraine Mr Jose Rodriguez Moyano underscored.
Speaking about the prospects of holding the International Forum, its concept and format the Leader of Mejlis and his first deputy noted that the results of the 2nd meeting with the diplomatic missions and representatives of the international organizations, accredited in Ukraine, showed the full support of the international community of the idea of holding the International Forum on the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people. “However, the lack of the political will and numerous contradictions within Ukrainian political circles do not let us hear the clear position of the Ukrainian government concerning the International Forum,”- Mustafa Jemilev concluded.
According to Refat Chubarov, one of the examples of “Ukrainian authorities keeping silence” concerning the International Forum is also the fact that since February 2012 the Concept of the International Forum, developed by the Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities is in the Administration of the President of Ukraine, but we receive no response to the proposal of the office of Mr Knut Vollenbaek.
To continue the talk the Spanish ambassador who has visited Mejlis’ office for the first time was informed on his demand about the structure and activity of the institutes of the national self-governance of Crimean Tatars.
“Qurultay and Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people – is the system that lets to preserve the unity and political will of Crimean Tatars,- Refat Chubarov said. – It attracts the political partners, but irritates our political opponents that mistakenly regard this system as parallel the one to Ukrainian bodies of power”.
In the framework of the discussion of the political and public situation in Ukraine and Crimea, the Spanish Ambassador expressed his opinion that Ukrainian state that wants to become a member of the European Union has first of all to comply with one of the main demands of the European and international community – to obey the rights of the national minorities, living in its territory.
