Statement of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People on Preparation to International Forum on Restoration of Crimean Tatars’ Rights

07 October 2013

STATEMENT OF

THE MEJLIS OF THE CRIMEAN TATAR PEOPLE

On September 19, 2013, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Mr Stefan Fule met in Simferopol with the current Chairman of the OSCE – the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, leaders and members of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, the representatives of the office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, a range of Crimean Tatar public organizations and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea.

The participants of the dialogue discussed the approaches to initiating the open and comprehensive political process on the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people and persons belonging to other nationalities that were deported from Crimea in the Soviet Union. It is noteworthy that the idea of holding the International forum on the restoration of the Crimean Tatars’ rights, initiated by the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People in 2009 was supported openly during the meeting with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy.

After the meeting that was held in Simferopol, on September 26, the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights held an urgent parliamentary hearing in Brussels and discussed the report titled, “The Pressing Situation in Regards to Human Rights of the Crimean Tatar People.”

During the meeting the MEPs and other participant of the session of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights heard and approved the report of the European External Action Service (EEAS) on the results of the meeting of the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy held on September 19, 2013 in Simferopol.

At the same time, the MEPs expressed their concern about the delay in the process of the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people, focusing their attention on the need and importance of hosting the International forum on the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people before March – April 2014.

Thus, the idea of the International forum on the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people becomes the reality due to the hard work of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and the support of the MEPs and EP bodies, the Council of Europe, OSCE, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, diplomatic corpse of the EU member-states, United States, Canada and Turkey accredited in Ukraine, as well as the Ukrainian politicians sharing the principles of the democracy and justice and could be hold on the eve of the 70^th anniversary of the tragic date in the history of the Crimea and the Crimean Tatar people.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People expresses its gratitude to the MEPs and EP bodies, Council of Europe, OSCE, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Head and officers of the EU Mission in Ukraine, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities for their active contribution to the process of involving the international community into providing assistance to Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar people in overcoming the consequences of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people committed by the totalitarian communist regime of the Soviet Union.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People fully shares the position of the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy on the need of the constant dialogue between all the parties concerned in order to solve the problems of the return, resettlement and restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people.

Such dialogue in the Crimean Tatar community is ensured through the close interaction of the bodies of the national self-governance, local and regional mejlises with the Crimean Tatar public organizations and members of the local councils – Crimean Tatars.

At the same time, the cardinal changes required in the relations between the state’s central and local bodies and the Crimean Tatar people that should be based on the real dialogue between the authorities and representatives elected by the Crimean Tatars themselves.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People supports the European integration of Ukraine and welcomes the joint efforts of the President of Ukraine and opposition aimed at preparation of the legal base required to ratify the Agreement on the association with the European Council during the Vilnius summit “Eastern Partnership” that will be held on November 28-19, 2013.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People hopes that 2014 will become the make-or-break year in the development of the Ukrainian state when the aspirations and efforts of Ukraine to make its contribution to the development of the larger Europe will be also marked by the beginning of the process of restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people and guaranteeing for their safety and development in their Homeland.