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By E. Morgan Williams, Senior Advisor, Government Relations
U.S.-Ukraine Foundation (USUF), Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
NEW YORK.....Ukraine issued a joint declaration on Monday,
November 10, 2003 at the United Nations in New York on the 70th
anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine (Holodomor),
H.E. Valeriy Kuchynsky, Ambassador, the Permanent Representative of
Ukraine to the United Nations announced at an international conference
on the famine held at Columbia University and at the unveiling ceremony
of the Great Famine Memorial Exhibit at the United Nations headquarters
on Monday evening.
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Ambassador Kuchynsky stated the joint declaration was cosponsored
by 26 nations and will be circulated as an official document of the 58th
session of the UN under agenda item 117(b).
Several hundred people gathered at the United Nations to witness
the opening of the exhibition which is based on the former Soviet archives
and documentary facts. The exhibits was organized by the Ukrainian Museum
in New York City. The exhibition was opened by UN Under-Secretary-
General Shashi Tharoor with welcoming remarks were made by H. E.
Mr. Julian Hunte, President of the 58th session of the UN.
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The joint declaration signed by the delegations of Azerbaijan,
Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt,
Georgia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nauru, Pakistan,
Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sudan,
Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Arab
Emirates and the United States of America states:
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"On the 70th Anniversary of the Great Famine of 1932-1933 in
Ukraine (Holodomor)[murder by hunger]
"In the former Soviet Union millions of men, women and children fell
victims to the cruel actions and policies of the totalitarian regime.
The Great Famine of 1932-33 in Ukraine (Holodomor), which took
7 to 10 millions of innocent lives, became a national tragedy for the
Ukrainian people. In this regard we note activities in observance of
the 70th anniversary.
"Honoring the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian tragedy, we also
commemorate the memory of millions of Russians, Kazakhs, and
representatives of other nationalities who died of starvation in the
Volga river region, North Caucasus, Kazakhstan and in other parts
of the former Soviet Union, as a result of Civil war and forced
collectivization, leaving deep scars in the consciousness of future
generations.
"Expressing sympathy to the victims of the Great Famine, we call
upon all Member States, the United Nations and its special
agencies, international and regional organizations, as well as non-
governmental organizations, foundations and associations to pay
tribute to the memory of those who perished during that tragic
period of history.
"Recognizing the importance of raising public awareness on the
tragic events in the history of mankind for the prevention in the
future, we deplore the acts and policies, which brought about
mass starvation and the deaths of millions of people. We do not
want to settle scores with the past, it could not be changed, but
we are convinced that exposing violations of human rights,
preserving historical records and restoring the dignity of victims
through acknowledgement of their suffering, will guide future
societies and help to avoid similar catastrophes in the future.
We need as many people as possible to learn about this
tragedy and consider that this knowledge will strengthen the
effectiveness of the rule of law and enhance respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms."
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The complete statement to the 58th session of the UN General Assembly
by H. E. Valeriy Kuchynsky, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of
Ukraine to the United Nations on agenda item 117 "Human rights questions"
in New York on November 10, 2003 is as follows:
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Mr. Chairman,
"At the outset I wish to thank the Secretary-General for the documents
under this agenda item and the Acting High Commissioner for Human
Rights Mr. Bertrand Ramcharan for his brilliant presentation. My delegation
would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of the
late High Commissioner for Human Rights, outstanding Brazilian diplomat
Sergio Vieira de Mello, an excellent peacemaker and a strong advocate for
human rights. We miss Sergio and will never forget the other people who
perished in Baghdad.
"In connection with this tragedy as well as a number of others in many
parts of the world we ask ourselves again and again; how can we save and
promote the most fundamental and inalienable right of every person---the
right to life?
"There is no doubt that we should combat new threats like terrorism in
all their forms. And we need to respond to them not only by legislative and
security measures but with the armory of common values, common standards
and common commitments on universal rights. A comprehensive strategy
to establish global security must be grounded on promoting respect for
human rights through upholding the rule of law, fostering social justice and
enhancing democracy.
"Raising public awareness of human rights and fundamental freedoms
is among the most important tasks we are facing today. Just a year ago, in
his first and last report as the High Commissioner before the General
Assembly Mr. de Mello rightly pointed out that nations had the right to know
the truth about past events. Full and effective exercise of this right to
truth is essential to avoid any recurrence of violations in the future.
"Guided by this principle my delegation together with the delegations
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Canada, Egypt, Georgia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kazakhstan,
Mongolia, Nauru, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian
Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan,
Timor-Leste, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and the United States of
America have issued the joint statement on one of the most tragic events
in the history of Ukraine, and I believe, in the history of mankind---the
Great Famine of 1932-33 (Holodomor). This statement will be circulated
as an official document of the 58th session under agenda item 117(b), and
Ukraine would like to thank once again all delegations who have signed
this statement for their valuable support.
"We, in Ukraine, are also very grateful to the Senates of Argentina,
Australia, Canada, and the US House of Representatives for adopting
this year respective documents on the Great Famine. Some of them
clearly pointed out that the Holodomor was one of the most terrible
expressions of genocide in the history of humankind.
"The Great Famine engineered by the totalitarian Soviet regime
claimed the lives of 7 to 10 million of our compatriots, the figure that
can be compared with the population of an average European country.
The dreadful Famine that engulfed Ukraine in 1932-33 was the result
of Joseph Stalin's policy of forced collectivization. This Famine was
accompanied by devastating purges of the Ukrainian intelligentsia,
religious leaders and politicians. It broke the peasant's will to resist
collectivization and left Ukraine politically, socially and psychologically
traumatized.
"Unfortunately, back in 1933 the world did not respond to our
tragedy. The international community believed the cynical propaganda
of the Soviet Union, which was selling bread abroad while in Ukraine the
hunger was killing 17 people a minute. In other words, a number of people
equal to the number of people present in this Conference room was
perishing every 20 minutes.
"During this week the delegation of Ukraine together with a number of
NGO's have organized scores of events in observance of the 70th anniversary
of the Great Famine, and invites all the delegations, their families and
friends to attend them and to learn more about the Ukrainian Holodomor.
"As the President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma stated in his address at
the general debate of the 58th session of the General Assembly, and as was
clearly expressed in the joint document of our delegations, we do not want
to settle scores with the past. We just want that as many people as
possible to know about our tragedy and that this knowledge willhelp all of
us to avoid similar catastrophes in the future."
At the international conference at Columbia University Ambassador
Kuchynsky told the participants that, "The truth about the Holodomor
(literally, murder by hunger), exceeds the framework of a historical
phenomenon. Its meaning cannot be expressed in a single phrase."
Kuchynsky said, "By its magnitude, the Great Famine of 1932-33
became a catastrophe, which is not rivaled in the history of Ukraine. The
Stalinist regime, in two years, purposely exterminated over 7 million
innocent men, women and children. And the basis of these criminal
acts has a political purpose."
"It was necessary for the regime to liquidate the wealthier
independent-minded peasants who were the backbone of the Ukrainian
nation. Due to state regulations, all trade was prohibited in rural areas,
food supplies were cut off from the villages, the distribution of bread
was 'unlawful,' and a system of mass grain confiscation was implemented.
Against this background, a campaign targeting the Ukrainian intelligentsia
and priests was carried out as well. Even the slightest attempts to
resurrect the Ukrainian language, culture, and national consciousness
were stemmed," Ukraine's ambassador to the UN explained.
In relating the events of the past year to what happened in 1932-33
Kuchynsky said, "In fact, the Famine of 1933 was a horrific weapon
of mass destruction, which was used by the Soviet regime in Ukraine.
It was not by any means a natural phenomenon, but a cynical form of
State terrorism against is own people."
The ambassador related that,"This tragedy turned into a serious
psychological trauma for the Ukrainian consciousness. Exhausted by
hunger, terrorized by totalitarian repressions, and finally, devastated
by World War II, Ukraine almost completely lost all of its individuality,
which was artificially substituted with a pseudo-ethnographic spirit.
Seventy years, this wound has not healed in our society and continues
to cause painful relapses."
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