Ceremonial meeting dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the first Qurultay

08 December 2017

On December 7th, Wednesday, in the Verkhovna Rada a ceremonial meeting dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the first Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people was held.

The meeting was attended by: the Leader of the Crimean Tatar people – Mustafa Dzhemilev, the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people – Refat Chubarov, Mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea – Aider Rustamov, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, people’s deputies of several convocations, as well as the first and third presidents of Ukraine – Leonid Kravchuk and Victor Yushchenko. The Hall was attended by Ukrainian and foreign diplomats; members of the Mejlis; delegates of the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people; representatives of the Crimean Tatar diaspora abroad,of the scientific institutions and public associations.

 In the Session Hall the Anthem of Ukraine and the Anthem of the Crimean Tatar people were played.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Andriy Parubiy was the first to address the participants of the ceremonial meeting. Subsequently, the Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada, Irina Lutsenko read the greeting from the President of Ukraine.

The next speaker in the ceremonial meeting was the Leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev. He congratulated all participantsin the State language, and then began his speech in the Crimean Tatar language. People got up from their seats and applauded him for twice.

The Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, the President of the World Congress of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov in his speech pointed out to a fundamental change regarding the 100th anniversary of the first Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people.

The Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Commission of Ukraine, the Chairman of the working group for the preparation on amendments toSection X of the Constitution of Ukraine “The Autonomous Republic of Crimea”, Bogdan Butkevych in his speech spoke about the history and culture of the Crimean Tatar people in different periods and the people’s contribution to the common culture.

The Chairman of the Spiritual Administartion of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Mufti Aider Rustemov in his speech noted that today, as100 years ago, the Crimean Tatars are fighting for their right to land. “Crimea is Ukraine,” he emphasized.

The last, who congratulated participants of the ceremonial meeting, was the Vice-President of the World Congress of the Crimean Tatars –Mukremin Shahin.

The meeting completed with playing of two Anthems – the State Ukrainian and the National Crimean Tatar.

After the end of the official part, in the hotel “Kiev” in honor of the 100th anniversary of the first Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people a festive buffet reception was held.