“Lithuania will never recognize the illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories. For us, this is a matter of international law”, Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania
In his speech at the Fourth Summit of the Crimea Platform, President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda said that Lithuania is proud to be a member of the International Crimea Platform and is ready to continue supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
“In the first half of the 20th century, the map of Europe was forcibly rewritten by totalitarian regimes. We must not and cannot allow the Kremlin to do the same in the 21st century, we cannot live in a world where law is determined by force”, Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania.
The speaker underlined that Russia’s colonial policy in Crimea involves severe restrictions on the rights of local residents, including the Indigenous People of Ukraine — the Crimean Tatars. Lithuania calls on Russia to immediately release all Ukrainian citizens from the captivity and leave temporarily occupied territories, Nausėda said.
“The suffering from the tragedy of the Crimean Tatars, who were forcibly expelled from their homeland, has not subsided for 80 years, and their wounds have not healed yet. The suffering has been exacerbated by the temporary occupation of Crimea, which Türkiye has opposed from the very beginning,” Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye.
President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is convinced that ensuring the security and well-being of the Crimean Tatars, the Indigenous People of Ukraine, remains a top priority of the foreign policy of the Republic of Türkiye.
“We sincerely want the war to end in a just and lasting peace based on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine,” President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said.
He emphasized the right of Crimean Tatars to live a free, secure, and peaceful life in their homeland. In this regard, he recalled the release of the Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Nariman Dzhelyal in June after almost three years of imprisonment, and expressed hope for the soonest release of all illegally detained persons, including brothers Asan and Aziz Akhtemov.
“Let me emphasize an important principle and fact: Crimea is Ukraine, not Russia, and this is a powerful political message broadcast by the Crimea Platform.” Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, emphasized that the creation of the Crimea Platform three years ago played an important role in actualizing the issue of temporarily occupied Crimea.
“The international community must not forget that the occupation began more than ten years ago, and the invasion of 2022 was not the beginning of Russian aggression. Russia’s human rights violations in occupied Crimea are becoming more widespread; we are witnessing murders, torture, deportations, kidnappings, and violations of international and humanitarian law. We condemn the persecution of the Ukrainian identity and the persecution of the Crimean Tatars in temporarily occupied Crimea. All prisoners must be released, and all those responsible for these crimes must be punished, including the crimes of forced passport nation and the holding of the recent illegal ‘elections,’” Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, mentioned.
He also reminded us that Russia has turned temporarily occupied Crimea into a militarized territory and is using it as a bridgehead for aggression and as a point of control of the Black Sea.
“Ukraine uses its legal right to self-defense to protect its sovereignty and citizens by international law. And this right also applies to temporarily occupied Crimea,” Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, stated.
“Albania’s position remains unwavering: we will continue to defend our principles and values, as well as the inviolability of borders, universal human rights, international law, and the UN Charter. We firmly believe that the attempt at illegal annexation cannot succeed. Such actions are void and will never be considered legitimate under international law,“ Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania, said.
The Prime Minister of Albania emphasized the risks to freedom and democracy worldwide if justice is not restored.
“The determination and courage of the Ukrainian people and the fight of the Armed Forces of Ukraine inspire all of us. In defending your country from an unprovoked attack, you contribute to the security of the entire European continent. You are on the frontlines, witnessing firsthand how important freedom is, how essential democracy is, and how we all face risks if we fail in your struggle”. Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama.
He also noted that Albania’s position remains and will remain steadfast in the matter of opposing the illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.
