Visit of French Senator Simon Sutour to Bakhchisaray

16 May 2011

May 10, 2011 the First Deputy Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, has met in Bakhchisaray regional mejlis with a member of France-Ukraine Inter-Parliamentary Group of Friendship of the French Senate headed by senator Simon Sutour who is also in charge of cooperation of the French Parliament with the countries of Eastern Europe.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chairman of Mejlis, Head of Bakhchisaray regional mejlis Akhtem Chiygoz and the Head of Foreign Relations Division of Mejlis Ali Hamzin.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Sutour conveyed to the Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Jemilev warm greetings on behalf of the Head of France-Ukraine Inter-Parliamentary Group of Friendship of the French Senate, Senator Jean-Pierre Plancade.

“Mr. Plancade, me and my colleagues visited Crimea in 2010. We often recall the meetings that we held with Mejlis’ leaders, our communication with many Crimean Tatars. At that time we first deeply touched with the Crimean Tatar problem and now, according to our lights, we are trying to explain our colleagues – French parliamentarians and the EU member-states the importance of its fair solution”, Simon Sutour underscored.

During the exchange of opinions on the situation in Ukraine and peculiarities of development between Ukraine and the EU, Refat Chubarov and Simon Sutour stressed the importance of enhancing Ukraine’s participation in European processes. “We in France are attaching special attention to expanding economic cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, including the regional aspect,” Mr. Sutour said.

“We welcome any initiatives aimed at integrating Ukraine into the EU, since it is obvious that without sustainable economic development of Ukraine, it is difficult to count on the democratization of Ukrainian society, which, in turn, would be a prerequisite for restoration of rights of the Crimean Tatar people”, noted Refat Chubarov and told the high French guest shortly about the most pressing issues which, in his view, should be reflected in those principles determining the nature of mutual cooperation between Ukraine and the EU. “It seems to us that clear approaches of the EU countries, as well as the European Commission to restore the rights of the Crimean Tatar people, fixed in the basic documents signed by Ukraine and the EU, may encourage the Ukrainian state to take effective measures, especially in terms of legislation aimed at restoring justice and eliminating the consequences of the genocide committed during the Soviet Union against Crimean Tatars,” Refat Chubarov concluded.

The French senator was also informed of the preparation by Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people for the International Forum on the restoration of rights of the Crimean Tatar people on its homeland, ensuring its security and guarantees of development in Ukraine.

At this it was stressed that a successful implementation of this initiative will mostly depend on the position of EU member states and Ukraine. “The Crimean Tatar problem in its modern interpretation should be regarded as all-European problem, inherited from the totalitarian regime. Since for various reasons, its resolution is problematic by the forces and resources only in Ukraine, the involvement of international organizations, including the OSCE and the EU to eliminate the consequences of deportation against the Crimean Tatar people and decades of discrimination against Crimean Tatars, in our opinion, should be welcomed by all the parties concerned,” Ali Hamzin stated, while informing the high guest about the fact that on the eve of May 18 – the Day of national mourning of the Crimean Tatar people – personal appeals to support the idea of the International Forum will be sent to the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and each European parliamentarian.

Senator Simon Sutour expressed his understanding of Mejlis’ position in its desire to carry out the International Forum and noted that the very process of the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people and creating conditions and guarantee for its full-fledged development in Ukraine would will to the European integration of the Ukrainian state.

In conclusion of the meeting the guest noted that the results of the constructive talk between the parties and the wishes expressed will be presented by him in writing to the Head of France-Ukraine Inter-Parliamentary Group of Friendship of the French Senate Jean-Pierre Plancade, who at the same time is a member of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. It was also noted that Mr. Jean-Pierre Plancade at the special OSCE conference to be held in Budapest in June this year in his report is going to give a separate coverage on the situation of Crimean Tatars in Ukraine.