MFA, East Europe Foundation agree on support for Crimean Platform’s expert network

30.07.2021 14:42

Ukrinform

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the international charitable organization East Europe Foundation signed a memorandum of cooperation to support the expert network of the Crimean Platform which has already been joined by 180 experts from 33 countries.

As the Ministry’s press service informs, the document was signed on July 29. After the signing ceremony, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the topic of the de-occupation of Crimea would unite the largest global expert network of analysts and scholars in the history of Ukraine.

“Almost 180 Ukrainian and foreign experts from 33 countries have already joined. And their number will grow,” the minister said.

The memorandum envisages the launch by the Foundation of a separate program that will support research projects of independent think tanks from many countries and civil society, provide information support to the Crimean Platform, support events, conferences, workshops, and round tables within it.

“The liberation of Crimea is a historical task of the Ukrainian state. To do this, Crimea must be constantly discussed within expert and scientific community around the world. That is why, on the initiative of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, we are creating the Crimean Platform and the global expert network as one of its important levels,” the minister noted.

The network will bring together representatives of Ukrainian and foreign non-governmental organizations, think tanks, and human rights activists who study the full range of issues around Russia’s occupation of Crimea. They will develop specific ideas and proposals, give expert assessments to secure the efficient policy of de-occupation of Crimea.

The minister thanked President of the East Europe Foundation Victor Lyakh for the partnership. According to him, expert diplomacy as part of public diplomacy will help Ukraine keep Crimea in the constant focus of the world community and will play a very important role in achieving the goals of the Crimean Platform.

Lyakh stressed that the Foundation shared the goals and objectives of the Crimean Platform.

As reported, 28 countries and international organizations have already confirmed their participation in the Crimean Platform summit in Kyiv on August 23.