First parliamentary summit of the international Crimea platform

Madam/Mister president,
Dear colleagues,

I welcome the initiative of this Summit as we are all involved in a common effort to re-establish the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters.
I would also like to thank the Sabor for helping Ukraine to organise this Summit.

Unfortunately, since the creation of this platform, the situation in Ukraine has not improved and, in addition to Crimea, Russia has unlawfully annexed four other regions. These are events that our predecessors, when adopting the UN Charter, never wanted to happen again.

In conformity with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3314 on the definition of aggression, Belgium does not recognize as lawful the territorial annexation of Crimea nor the recently annexed territories in the Donbass region.

Since 2014, the people of Ukraine have expressed their wish for a democratic and European future on Maidan square. Unfortunately, 8 years later, more than half of the Ukrainian children have been displaced from their daily life.

Last April, I had the opportunity to visit a border crossing point and two reception centres for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. There, I was able to witness the exile of many Ukrainian families who are staying in camps waiting to go to another country or to return home. An unacceptable, painful and distressing situation.

It is for their future that we must help Ukraine to stop the war and regain its territories.

Belgium, along with its fellow member states of the European Union, has implemented unprecedented political, diplomatic and restrictive measures towards the Russian federation. On March 31 st 2022, we have organised a virtual conference at the House of representatives of Belgium with the President of Ukraine, Mr Volodymyr Zelensky and on June 13 th 2022, we were honoured to welcome in our institution the President of the Verkhovna Rada, Mr Ruslan Stefanchuk, who met one of the many citizens who have shown their support in helping Ukrainian people. Herewith I want to reaffirm that Belgium stands with Ukraine.

By condemning Russia's actions, we contribute to the preservation of international law and we reaffirm our commitment to the international order based on the rule of law, to the preservation of peace, the respect for national sovereignty and the prohibition of unlawful use of force.

The consequences of the war in Ukraine showed us that our world is interlinked. The blockade of food exports and Ukrainian ports has a direct impact on food supply to developing countries, creating significant risk for famine. Therefore, it is essential that we promote regional security and protection of freedom of navigation.

The Russian authorities must be held accountable in front of the competent international juridiction for the crimes committed in Ukraine.

Dear colleagues,

The adoption of this declaration is, in addition to Belgium political, military, humanitarian and diplomatic support, another way by which we want to show our support and reaffirm our
solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Thank you for your attention.

Eliane TILLIEUX