Menu 
Mr Refat Chubarov: International Forum Must Be Held on the Eve of May 18, 2013 – 70th Anniversary of Deportation of Crimean Tatar People
04 December 2013
On December 4, 2013, Mr Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and Mr Mustafa Jemilev, MP of Ukraine met in Kyiv with Ms Astrid Thors OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
Mr Alexei Skorik, advisor of the MP of Ukraine and Mr Bob Din, senior advisor of the HCNM’s Office also joined the meeting.
During the meeting that lasted around two hours the parties discussed a wide range of issues relating to the situation in Crimea and the Crimean Tatar people, the development of the political crisis caused by the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on termination of the preparation to the ratification of the EU – Ukraine Association Agreement made on November 21, 2013, as well as the prospects of the holding of the International forum on the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people.
The parties discussed the possible dialogue of the state and republican authorities with the Crimean Tatar people and its representative body.
The Mejlis Head noted that it is very important that on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the deportation the Crimean Tatar people from their historical Homeland – Crimea the Crimean Tatars received the clear impulses from the Ukrainian state and international organizations, fist of all the OSCE and EU which directly involved in seeking the ways of the solution of the Crimean Tatar problem in Ukraine today.
“The Crimean Tatar expects that the draft Law of Ukraine “On the restoration of the rights of persons that were deported on the national grounds” will be adopted. We expect that in the nearest future Ukraine will state its position as regards to the holding of the International forum in the beginning of 2014 that must be convened on the eve of May 18, 2013 – the 70th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people,”- Mr Chubarov said.
Talking to the OSCE High Commissioner Mr Jemilev, MP of Ukraine stated that the authorities must regard the Crimean Tatar people as the indigenous people of Crimea and one of the subjects of the political, economical and public life of Ukraine regardless the political environment and government’s interests.
In her turn, Ms Astrid Thors, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities underscored that the HCNM Office will further follow closely the processes in Ukraine as the OSCE member-state, especially in the field of the protection of the human rights and nations’ rights.
According to the High Commissioner, she and her team appreciate the way that the Crimean Tatars made. “I understand that the further protraction of the legal solution of the Crimean Tatar problem could promote impatience and seeking for other forms of the protection of their rights specially among the youth,”- Ms Astrid Thors stated.
Addressing her partners, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities expressed her confidence that the Crimean Tatar leaders will further guided by the democratic principles. At this she noted that she appreciates the possibility to meet personally the winner of Nansen Prise Mr Mustafa Jemilev.
Note: In Summer 2013 Ms Astrid Thors, former Minister of Migration and European Relations of Finland was elected the new OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
Ms Thors was the Member of the European Parliament. Her appointment the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities was adopted by all 57 OSCE member-states. Mr Thors’ three-year tenure as the OSCE High Commissioner started on August 20, 2013.
