On March, 22 the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Australia in Ukraine Ms. Melissa O’Rourke in the framework of visit to Kherson region met with the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Borys Babin. The sides discussed through the dialogue the last events in Crimea under the International Law, in particular the violations and ignoring by the state-aggressor political and economic measures sanctioned against Russia by the International Community.

Ms. Melissa interested in the problems faced by the inhabitants of Crimea – the citizens of Ukraine in various areas of the peninsula activity nowadays, particularly in the political situation within the context of so-called “elections” of the President of Russia Federation, discrimination of Ukrainians and Crimea Tatars in their access to study in native languages, the militarization of the peninsula, elimination of the  cultural heritage sights, total violations of Crimea Tatar’s rights etc.  Borys Babin went back to the history of Indigenous Crimea Tatar People, its struggle for the historic Motherland, beginning with the years of “Stalinizm” and so far, told about the occupier’s pressure on the Indigenous People, ethnic Ukrainians and national minorities.

The permanent Representative informed the guest about the official status of the Mission as a state body, its opportunities to facilitate and coordinate the activity of the executive bodies in decision of various challenges faced by the IDPs and citizens of Ukraine, inhabiting in the TOT of Ukraine in Crimea, emphasized the major orientations and priorities of the Mission in the near future. Also Borys Babin told about the Mission’s efforts in implementation the Administrative Centers Services in the settlements within the administrative boundary line between Crimea and Kherson region, the arrangements to the Entrance Campaign in 2018 according to the program “Crimea – Ukraine” and the prospects of the Action Plan  realization adopted by the Council of Europe for Ukraine for the nearest years and adding the issue of protection of the rights of IDPs from the TOT of Crimea within the new project of the Council of Europe.

The Ambassador thanked the Permanent Representative for the interesting and comprehensive meeting declaring the intentions to visit Kherson region in future, the sides changed the contacts for their further cooperation.