“This document is not the one that is often mentioned, however, it was the start of the way of independent Ukraine. I am talking about the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukrainian SSR 26 years ago,” Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Feldman wrote this on his Facebook page.
According to his words, it was the first document stipulating the provisions about citizenship of Ukraine and about the people of Ukraine. All citizens of Ukraine are equal under the law regardless of their social state, nationality, and religion. “The idea of equality and complex, multinational people is a cornerstone of Ukrainian statehood. It makes our state strong and stable,” the politician emphasized.
“Today, this idea is put to the serious tests – both in Ukraine and in the other European countries. The tragedy in Nice was another one episode when one citizen of France mercilessly attacks the other citizens of France. Mass media have already told that this terrorist is Tunisian by origin, implying that he is “not completely French.” Will the values of openness, tolerance, equality, and inclusivity withstand under these conditions?
Everything depends on those of us, who are ready to resist the increase of xenophobia even today, when there are plenty of reasons to hate strangers. Terror is a grave crime, and it is necessary to struggle against it with the help of adequate methods, like the intensified work of intelligence services and law-enforcement agencies and the reasonable policy of governments. It is impossible to defeat terrorism be means of xenophobia. So let’s not allow voices stirring up hatred between people to sound louder. Let’s protect peace and harmony between citizens of our wonderful independent and proud country! Greetings on the anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty!” Oleksandr Feldman declared.
