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, said Parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi.“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.
Xhaferi said that previously, in March 2022 in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia we adopted the “Declaration on the condemnation of the military attacks that threaten the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”. In addition, we joined all resolutions and initiatives that demand Russia to stop the use of force in Ukraine and withdraw its troops. We also joined all restrictive measures and sanctions of the European Union towards the Russian Federation.
Xhafer added that as a state, we also participated in the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform, where the parliamentary dimension of the Platform was promoted. It is a joint effort of the international community to stand in the way of the fast-growing security threats that have the tendency to assume unwanted proportions. With the Platform:
- The solidarity between the members of the European Union and NATO is confirmed;
- A message is sent from the democratic world against the forcibly imposed Russian order;and
- A message is sent that the international law, the inviolability of internationally recognized borders and common values, such as human rights and fundamental freedoms, must and will be protected!
With the International Crimea Platform, the unity of the international community in the defense of those norms was once again confirmed. At the same time, we demonstrated determination to continue with our support for Ukraine with political, economic, humanitarian, security assistance, until there is freedom of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Because de-occupation of Crimea is of great significance not only for Ukraine, but for whole Europe, for the regional and global security and stability.
As a result of the adoption of the Joint statement of the First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform in Zagreb, in December 2022, the Assembly established the Inter-party parliamentary group for the International Crimea Platform, with the purpose of establishing and implementing an effective parliamentary dimension of cooperation between the Participants. The goal is to contribute to raising global and domestic awareness about the situation of the Crimean Peninsula. The Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia with this actonce again confirmed its determinations that as an institution and as a state, we stand firmly with Ukraine, the Ukrainian people and the institutions in their fight for freedom.
“The next activity in the Assembly, the Exhibition of the Holodomor “Ukraine remembers, the world recognizes”, was yet another sad reminder of the cruelty of the aggressor, who again is the same. Countless victims, women, children, elderly, destroyed in a systematic way, with hunger. Without the least bit of conscience and responsibility for the right of every person, without exception, to live and grow old naturally. We are witnessing the awakening of the old, dormant or just seemingly silenced aspirations. We are aware that the greediness and aspirations for seizing, annexing of what is not theirs are fueling in subtle ways. Apparently, Pandora’s box has opened and thus creating an alibi for any subsequent uncivilized behavior of the bigger, or not so big, but with support of destructive forces. And after so much suffering, lives and entire generations lost, humanity just cannot learn the lesson and be satisfied with what it enjoys, to preserve and foster it for the next generations to use. In these past days, we heard the statement of Russian President Putin that supposedly Russia is only defending itself and that Russia wants to reach an agreement in a peaceful manner, but that the West does not allow this by giving support to Ukraine. There is only one way to achieve peace and to do so it is necessary to sit at the table opposite each other in a conversation without gloves, on equal basis. And the sooner, the better! A peaceful agreement is not achieved when you look at the opponent through the shooting mark of a weapon. With each day gone by, the wounds are ever more deep, the flame and anger ever more ignited. Enough! There is no more time for wasting! Now more than ever, just how important the enlargement of the European Union is with the Western Balkan countries is being conformed, for the security, stability and democratic consolidation of the European continent. Dear attendees, let us not allow for everything to turn to ashes, we have invested and sacrificed too much, we, our ancestors, their ancestors. The evil can very quickly knock on anyone’s door, because in one way or another, the effect is reflected on the whole region, irrespective”, informs Xhaferi.
