CIVIL – Center for Freedom and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of North Macedonia organized a large conference, photo exhibition and promotion of a book titled: “Ukraine – Year of Heroism”.
The highest representatives of the top of the state, the diplomatic corps and experts are speakers at the conference.
President Stevo Pendarovski:
“Not a single aggression can be justified, regardless of whether you follow academic definitions or real life. There is no doubt that the Russian attack against Ukraine is a direct violation of the international order and the system of security architecture that was to ensure permanent peace, stability and prosperity in Europe after the end of the Cold War. Russia has violated all international legal acts in that context, and over the last year, its troops have carried out atrocious crimes against numerous Ukrainian civilians, acts unacceptable for a civilized country.
The pictures and testimonies from Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, Kherson, Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities and villages speak of a lack of basic sense for humanity of the Russian military machinery, though, testifies also of what an anachronistic and autocratic policy can lead to when for the architects of this war, even the thousands of killed on their side are not an enough reason to stop the spiral of madness. On the side of the democratic part of the world, there must not be any hesitance that all crimes should be investigated in detail, and the perpetrators brought to justice”, highlighted Pendarovski.
President of the Assembly Talat Xhaferi:
“As the Conference is titled “Ukraine – A Year of Heroism”, unfortunately, an entire year has passed since the attack of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. I believe that no one thought that this conflict would last long. However, the development of events denies us even after all the efforts of the entire democratic world that respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries. A world that recognizes internationally recognized state borders and respects them. Therefore, all together, as much as we can, in the way we can, give support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. I believe that not a single conflict, not a single defense has had better organized military, moral and any other support, even verbal, globally. At the same time, apart from the engaged military aid with technologically advanced sophisticated equipment, I also mean the visits of exceptionally high and influential statesmen who have visited Ukraine, have had meetings with Ukrainian President Zelensky, with the President of the Verkhovna Rada Stefanchuk and other managing structures. I am the first President of Assembly from the region who went to Ukraine, in order to personally and institutionally express support to the Ukrainian people and institutions. Given my military past, one would say that nothing could surprise me. But it is not so! A person can never be prepared enough for the cruelty of another man. Faced with the number of lives lost, the destroyed infrastructure and Ukraine’s entering into a totally different dimension of existence, I committed to making efforts for assistance with all my power. At the same time, amazed by the courage, dedication, sacrifice and calmness of the Ukrainian leaders and citizens, persistent in the just fight for freedom”, said Xhaferi.
Ukrainian Ambassador Larysa Dir:
“I would like to thank you for supporting Ukraine, and also for finding the time to join us at this Conference, which is dedicated to the heroic year of resistance of Ukrainians, organized with the assistance of CIVIL.
Todaymarks a year since Ukraine began resisting the brutal russian aggression, which changed the world order.
In the aftermath of two terrible wars in the 20th century, countries tried to, and in fact they did, rebuild the global security architecture. A number of international organizations of a universal character were created, hundreds of documents regulating security, peace and human rights were developed and signed.
At four o’clock in the morning on February 24th, 2022, the world changed not only for Ukrainians – the world order in general changed. For Ukrainians, the world order has changed in the most brutal way – with russian missiles and Iranian drones, war crimes and crimes against humanity which were and are still being committed by the russian occupiers.
The security architecture in Europe began to change significantly since February 2014, when the russian federation temporarily occupied the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and some areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. The international reaction, including the reaction of international organizations, to the unlawful and illegal policy of russia should have been more decisive.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the kremlin’s desire to destroy the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian statehood has intensified, inclusively because the plan for a quick occupation of Kyiv in 3 to 7 days was not implemented.
The only reason for this unprovoked aggression was the russian state’s and its top leadership’s neo-imperial ambitions. russia’s president made a fatal mistake.
In reality, Ukraine has not only stopped the invasion but has also been able to free nearly half of its newly occupied territories through successful counter-offensives”, said Ukrainian Ambassador Dir.
Bojan Maricic, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs:
“Exactly one year has passed since the announcement of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and the sounding of air raid sirens in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. On February 24, 2022, with the start of the Russian invasion against Ukraine, the world changed overnight, while Europe – the “oasis of peace”, became a witness to and a field of fierce war”, declared Maricic.
Minister of Denfence, Slavjanka Petrovska:
“After my return from Ukraine yesterday, I can say that I am still absorbed by the rush of emotions from what I saw and witnessed there. It is something that you cannot experience through the screens. Life in fear and uncertainty, destroyed homes and families, people who will mourn forever for their sons and daughters who gave their lives for the freedom of their country.
But in Ukraine, I also saw much more. Contrary to the horror, unscrupulous destruction and terror – stands heroism, determination and the drive of the Ukrainian people to defend themselves and to protect what is sacred to all of them – their motherland.
Commemorating a year of immeasurable losses and pain, we commemorate also a year of resistance, courage, a year of unity. This is a year of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people against the full Russian invasion against Ukraine, and a year of unity and strengthened alliance on the European continent.
We can say that Putin made two major strategic mistakes – first, he completely underestimated the determination of Ukraine. He underestimated also the unity of Europe, the unity of NATO.
Our unity is our greatest strength. Thy tried to divide us, but achieved precisely the opposite. We are more united and more determined than ever before.
North Macedonia, as a member state of NATO, but primarily as a state that makes decisions independently led precisely by the principles of respect for the international law, has shown in action that it is firmly committed to the support and assistance for Ukraine. In terms of our capacities and size, I am proud that we belong to the group of countries that help Ukraine in its just defense against the aggression”, declared Petrovska.
EU Ambassador David Geer:
“For the EU and our partners, including North Macedonia, there is no alternative to staying the course of our ‘triple strategy’: supporting Ukraine, putting pressure on Russia to stop its illegal aggression and helping the rest of the world cope with the wider impacts of the war. • The EU will remain resolute, united and determined in its support for the Ukrainian people on all fronts: humanitarian, economic, political, diplomatic and military. Ukraine must prevail. And European security protected”, said Ambassador Geer.
Ambassador of Albania, Fatos Reka:
“One long year has passed since the attack of the military troops of the Russian Federation, to a free sovereign state like Ukraine, camouflagedas “special military operation”, caused thousands of victims among innocent people, population mass displacement– withmillions of refugees being hosted in European countries – anddestruction of an entire country, not to mention the indirect impact on the global energy and economic crisis”, stated Ambassador of Albania, Fatos Reka.
Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Jaroslav Ludva:
“The Czech Republic and Ukraine may not be neighbors, geographically Prague is far from Kyiv, but our hearts are close. The Ukrainians are in the hearts of all citizens of the Czech Republic. It has been so from the very beginning of Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine.I have prepared some figures, but I believe that the Russian aggression against Ukraine is not only about figures, but feelings and willingness to help. It doesn’t matter how big that help is, because each country has a different capability and size. But there should be, and the most important thing is to have the desire to help. I mentioned in the Czech Republic, Ukraine was always the best friend of the Czech Republic”, stated the Czech Ambassador.
Deputy Ambassador of Great Britain, Julia Smyth:
“As Ukraine enters its second year living under a full-scale Russian bombardment, we hold the people of Ukraine in our hearts and minds at this terrible period in their nation’s history. We are so sad for this anniversary. • The Russian regime has consistently underestimated Ukraine, and the resolve of the Ukrainian people. At the start of the invasion, Russia thought it would overwhelm and seize Ukraine in just three days. • We admire the resolve, skill and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces who have pushed Russia further back than anyone expected. • Putin has also underestimated international unity in support of Ukraine. The UK and its partners stand united in support of Ukraine, and we will continue our support to ensure Russia withdraws its forces from Ukraine and is held accountable for its actions”, declared Smyth.
Ambassador of Romania, Adela Monica Axinte:
“One year ago, Russia decided to invade Ukraine, a peaceful and independent country and by this brought back the war in Europe for the first time after many years. This brutal war that has caused great suffering for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, through the great losses of human lives and unrepeatable war terrors, has been a turning point for the whole world. It’s not just a war in Ukraine, but a war against our freedom, our values, our democratic communities, a war against the essential parameters of the security architecture and all other issues surrounding that”, said Ambassador of Romania Axinte.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, Filip Tosevski
“Exactly one year ago, an unimaginable war of aggression began in Europe, in the 21st century, after decades of carefully and skillfully developed international order based on rules and principles. Today, exactly one year since the aggression against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, when the people of Ukraine suffer from the evil of an unprovoked, unjust and deliberate aggressive war, we express our selfless and friendly support, in sign of solidarity, because today it is Ukraine and tomorrow it can be any of our countries that rely on the norms and principles of international law and consider the Charter of the United Nations an indisputable guarantee of their independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”, declared Tosevski.
