In Ankara, during an official visit to Turkey, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with representatives of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar communities and took part in the opening of the new office of the Crimean Tatar Diaspora.
“It is a great pleasure to meet you here in a new hospitable house of the Crimean Tatar community. It is of particular symbolism that we have convened here as one big family. I am glad that the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar communities have a close cooperation,” the Head of State at the beginning of the meeting.
The President thanked the communities for their solidarity with Ukraine and practical assistance to our country in times of challenges, as well as for their tangible contribution to the establishment of strategic partnership relations between Ukraine and Turkey. He also noted the activity of Ukrainian communities’ branches in various cities of Turkey and one of the greatest recent achievements – interpersonal relations.
“Your persistent work makes the Ukrainian community in Turkey stronger and turns it into a really influential force,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
“I am grateful for numerous actions in support of our state, for moral and material help, for assistance in the treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian children, who, unfortunately, were left without parental care. Thank you for keeping Ukraine in your heart,” the Head of State added.
The President stresses that despite the fact that hospitable Turkish land became a new home for the attendees, everyone is welcome in Ukraine. He urged to join the development of the Homeland. “Each of you is important for Ukraine. Your experience, your knowledge, your capabilities. My team has set itself very ambitious goals: we want to build a country where our people will gladly return from abroad. And I would like you to be actively involved in creating this new Ukraine – we need your help,” he said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that during today’s talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he planned to discuss the occupation of Crimea and Russia’s regular violations of the rights of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians.
The President noted that Ukraine would continue to draw the attention of the international community to the violation of the rights of the Crimean Tatars by the invasive Russian authorities in Crimea. At the same time, the Ukrainian authorities closely examine the problems of the Crimean Tartar IDPs who were forced to leave Crimea because of the Russian aggression. “I assure you, Ukraine will not leave the IDPs alone with their problems. We also understand how important it is for you to visit your relatives and your native land. In the near future, we will adopt a provision simplifying the procedure of obtaining the permit to visit Crimea,” the Head of State noted.
In the framework of the visit, the President of Ukraine also laid flowers to the Mausoleum of the founder and the first President of the Republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and made a note in the Book of the Mausoleum’s Honored Guests.