Mejlis’ Leader Mustafa Jemilev Insists on Necessity to Prolong Bishkek Agreement for 10 Years

11 April 2013

On April 11, 2013 the field meeting of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations was held in the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea.

This meeting was initiated by the Head of the Subcommittee on the Ethnic Policy, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and National Minorities, Head of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Jemilev.

During his speech the Leader of Mejlis M.Jemilev drew the attention of the participants of the meeting to the fact that the prolonged duration ofthe “Agreement of the restoration of the right of the deported persons, national minorities and peoples” (Bishkek Agreement) expires in May this year. As is known, the ratification of this document by the CIS countries on October 9, 1992 in Bishkek was initiated by Ukraine.

“This is a very progressive document and execution of all 12 articles of the Bishkek Agreement could ease the process of the return of the deportees considerably. But, unfortunately some countries that signed this agreement, including Russia do not ratified it. Though the other countries that ratified it did not fully obey the provisions of the agreement,”- MP of Ukraine M.Jemilev noted. In 2003 the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine prolonged this agreement for additional 10 years. Taking into consideration that the process of the repatriation is far from its end and the term of its prolongation ends in May this year the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has to prolong it for additional 10 years.”