Doc. 9240
27 September 2001

Guaranteeing rights of Ukrainian national minorities

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Kostytsky and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

Our modern-day society is characterised by the revival of Ukrainian self-awareness, the formation of a network of national institutions and positive developments in the field of national education and culture in neighbouring countries.

But Ukrainian minorities still face a number of serious problems. Ukrainian language and culture are threatened with extinction under a systematic policy of assimilation and prohibition of teaching of Ukrainian language and traditions.

The Ukrainian national minorities are alarmed by the closure or discontinuation of Ukrainian educational institutions, publications and television programmes.

In some countries Ukrainians have suffered the destruction of a number of historic sites, depriving them of their past.

Ukrainian national minorities have a right to freedom of religion but they are often unable to attend Orthodox and Greek Catholic churches because there are none in their region.

In the light of the above and in the interests of ensuring that all existing international agreements on minority rights are taken into account,

Signed (see overleaf)

The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers

Conduct a study of the state of education for Ukrainian minorities in neighbouring countries with a view to taking steps to protect those minorities, implementing resources for the protection of Ukrainian educational institutions, mass media and television, and fostering the revival of the Orthodox and Greek Catholic faiths.

Signed : ¹

Kostytsky, Ukraine, EPP/CD

Cilevics, Latvia, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Karpov, Ukraine, EDG

Knight, United Kingdom, EDG

Landsbergis, Lithuania, EDG

McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC

Mota Amaral, Portugal, EPP/CD

Oliynyk, Ukraine, UEL

Solé Tura, Spain, SOC

Zvarych, Ukraine, EDG

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group