Process of Resettlement of Crimean Tatars by State Should be Regarded Far Wider than Just Construction

11 April 2013

The Head of the Parliamentary faction “Qurultay-Rukh” in the VR ACR, the First Vice Chairman of Mejlis Refat Chubarov stated this on April 11, 2013 in his speech at the field meeting of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Human Rights, national minorities and interethnic relations.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, Refat Chubarov focused their attention on the fact that “the resettlement of the deported peoples by the state is not just the construction issues, but first of all preserving their national identity.”

At this, Refat Chubarov called to view the whole scope of problems, relating to the resettlement of the deportees in light of the return of the whole people to their Homeland and that have no their statehood outside Ukraine. “Just imagine that you belong to the Crimean Tatar people and you have no land, no state outside Crimea, you were banned from educating your children in your native language and even call yourself Crimean Tatars,”- Refat Chubarov said, addressing the participants of the meeting.

The First Vice Chairman of Mejlis stated the depressing situation in the field of the national education, lack of schools, text-books and manuals.

“The experts are trying to write the text-books, they were not published for 50 years, but the Ministry of education of Ukraine does not approve them. Thus, for example, the authors of the text-book for the 5-6 grades, titled “Ahlyaq Bilgisi” (“Ethics”), written in Crimean Tatar, considering the national traditions and spiritual values, were not approved by the Ministry of education of Ukraine for 5 years. As a result, the Minister of education of Ukraine D.Tabachnik made order to recommend translating the existing manual “Ethics” for Ukrainian schools from Ukrainian into Crimean Tatar… It’s a real mockery! Of coarse we all are part of Ukrainian political nation, but we are Crimean Tatars…”- R.Chubarov concluded.

Speaking about the national Mass Media, the MP of Crimea Refat Chubarov mentioned the problem with financing of the newspaper “Qirim”. “Newspaper “Qirim” is published only in Crimean Tatar language and is financed from the state budget. This year only 319 thousand Hryvnas was planned. Today is April 11, 2013 and it doesn’t receive a penny. The practice shows this money will be allocated at the end of the year, but the Treasury won’t pass them as usual. It’s a real mockery, as well!”

Refat Chubarov was also sure that one couldn’t solve the issues of the resettlement successfully without the establishment of the equal and fair dialogue… To his opinion, the authorities say: “Stop, we know who of you we should speak to!” when it comes to the Crimean Tatar people, and of coarse they choose those who are convenient to them and who will agree with everything that the authorities tell them.

“I would like to state frankly that the authorities will have to carry the dialogue with those who Crimean Tatars elect themselves any way,”- Refat Chubarov underscored, speaking about the unwillingness of the authorities to recognize the representative bodies of Crimean Tatars.

In conclusion of his speech Refat Chubarov expressed his confidence that the only way to success and peace is the reestablishment of an open dialogue between the authorities and community.