Participating delegations represented more than 50 countries and international institutions, including parliamentary assemblies, international organisations and the European Parliament. At the conclusion of the conference, participants adopted a joint declaration in which they condemned the occupation of Crimea and reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The Russian Federation’s occupation of other Ukrainian territories was also condemned, as well as the so-called referendums that were carried out in several regions of the country. Switzerland condemned these activities as another violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and international law.
Gordan Jandroković and Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speakers of the Croatian and Ukrainian parliaments respectively and hosts of the summit, chaired the plenary session. The session focused on various aspects of the contribution that parliaments can make within the Crimea Platform’s five priority areas: a policy of non-recognition, sanctions, human rights, security and freedom of navigation, as well as the economic and environmental consequences of the occupation of Crimea. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared via videoconference.
During her remarks, Ms Kälin spoke of the continued importance of the Crimea Platform, emphasising Switzerland’s concerns regarding the human rights situation, which has worsened since the occupation began in 2014. She also called on Russia to respect international human rights law as an occupying power.
Alongside the conference, Ms Kälin also held bilateral meetings with her Croatian and Ukrainian counterparts. Her talks with Mr Jandroković centred on the war in Ukraine and the challenges surrounding energy supply.
Ms Kälin’s meeting with Ruslan Stefanchuk provided an opportunity to further strengthen parliamentary relations between Switzerland and Ukraine, as well as to reaffirm Swiss solidarity with the people of Ukraine. The countries have historically maintained close parliamentary relations, which have further intensified in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ms Kälin visited the Ukrainian parliament in Kyiv in April, together with National Council members Roger Nordmann (SP/VD), Nik Gugger (EVP/ZH) and Yves Nidegger (SVP/GE). She also led an important Swiss parliamentary delegation that participated in the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2022) in Lugano in July. The URC2022 conference was the first time since the beginning of Russia’s aggression that a delegation of Swiss parliamentarians was able to meet with their Ukrainian counterparts to discuss progress on parliamentary reform in Ukraine and the central role of parliament in the country’s reconstruction.
The Crimea Platform is a Ukrainian initiative to keep the attention of the international community on the political situation in Crimea. It aims to increase the effectiveness of the international response to the ongoing occupation of Crimea, particularly through the coordination of restrictive measures against Russia. This parliamentary conference was organised jointly by the Croatian and Ukrainian parliaments. It follows on from the first Crimea Platform summit held in 2021, where Switzerland was represented by former National Council President Andreas Aebi (SVP/BE), and the second summit held online in August 2022 with the participation of Swiss President Ignazio Cassis.
Texte original en E: The plenary session will focus, inter alia, on the multiple aspects of the potential parliamentary contribution to the achievement of the five priority areas of the International Crimea Platform (non-recognition policy, sanctions, human rights, safety and freedom of navigation, economic and environmental consequences of the occupation of Crimea), as well as on ways to continue providing comprehensive support for Ukraine, while maintaining pressure on Russia to end its temporary occupation of Crimea and other parts of Ukrainian territory.
Delegations representing more than 50 countries and international institutions participated in the first parliamentary summit of the Crimea Platform (Photo: Croatian parliament)
National Council President Irène Kälin with Gordan Jandroković (right) and Ruslan Stefanchuk (left), speakers of the Croatian and Ukrainian parliaments respectively and hosts of the event (Photo: Croatian parliament)
National Council President Irène Kälin speaks at the plenary session of the Crimea Platform’s parliamentary summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared via videoconference at the first parliamentary summit of the Crimea Platform