March 3, 2017

More

“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House about the long-awaited motion picture premier of ‘Bitter Harvest’ on February 28 at the Canadian War Museum. This film was inspired by one of the most harrowing genocides of the 20th century, the Holodomor, or genocide by famine, planned and executed by Soviet dictator Stalin against the Ukrainian people in 1932-1933.

“ ‘Bitter Harvest’ is the compelling story of dignity, rebellion, and the power of love in the midst of horrific evil as seen through the eyes of a young couple caught up in the midst of Stalin’s genocidal policies. It features such talented Hollywood actors as Terence Stamp and Canada’s own Barry Pepper. It is directed and co-written by Canadians George Mendeluk and Richard Bachynsky-Hoover.

“The principal producer of this epic, Ian Ihnatowycz, is a constituent and successful entrepreneur, as well as generous philanthropist.

“I encourage all members of the House to attend the premier of ‘Bitter Harvest’ on February 28. I congratulate Ian, without whom this motion picture would not have been possible.”

– Member of Parliament Borys Wrzesnewskyj  (Liberal-Etobicoke Center), speaking on February 16 in the Canada’s House of Commons.


“Today no one has doubt in [the] crucial role of human rights as one of the main U.N. pillars together with peace and security and development. Indeed, when all three of these pillars are strong and coordinated, they form a solid safeguard for people. Whenever – and wherever – any of these elements weakens, it endangers the whole system and if not further prevented might evolve into the vicious circle of ruining lives and environment all round. …

“It is quite easy to indicate one common source of this insecurity in Europe – one state that considers himself ‘more equal than others.’ A strategy to instigate, participate, support and then derail instead of mediating has been used by this state to create a number of volatile hotspots across our continent. This strategy was applied in Georgia in 2008. It was vigorously activated in Ukraine since 2014. My country endures direct military aggression, with Crimea and part of Donbas being illegally occupied by the Russian Federation. To date 10,000 have been killed and more than 22,000 wounded in Donbas, and Crimea has become a ‘grey zone’ marred by injustice, terror and repression. The occupying authorities commit systematic violations of human rights and they seek to destroy the identity of Ukrainians and the indigenous people of the peninsula – the Crimean Tatars. …

“Today, global order based on the rule of law has reached a tipping point. There are two options: an ever-increasing destabilization or consolidation of the international community around strengthening institutions and the U.N. Charter ensuring full adherence to international law. …”

– Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Pavlo Klimkin, speaking at the 34th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 28.

Comments are closed.