Members of the Scholarly-Consultative Council of the Committee on Nationalities and Religions Discussed Ethnic-National Policy

KYIV — On February 3, 2010, a session of the Scholarly-Consultative Council on Matters of Ethnic-National Policy of the State Committee on Nationalities and Religions was held. The main point on the agenda was the discussion of the draft Concept of the State Ethnic-National Policy of Ukraine. The press service of the state committee reported this story on February 4.

The document states in particular that the main goal of the ethnic-national policy of Ukraine is the development and consolidation of the Ukrainian political nation, which envisages the preservation and development of the cultural and language originality of the Ukrainian nation, national minorities, and ethnic groups on the basis of ensuring the rights and freedoms of the person and citizen.

The main objectives of the state ethnic-national policy, according to the draft concept, are the creation of appropriate conditions to ensure equal-right relations between representatives of the Ukrainian nation, national minorities, and ethnic groups living in Ukraine, the establishment of an atmosphere of tolerance and inter-ethnic agreement in the Ukrainian society, ensuring equal opportunities in the economic, social, political, and cultural areas of the life of society regardless of race, political and religious beliefs, gender, ethnic, and social origin, property status, place of residence, language, and other attributes.

During the discussion, the participants voiced their proposals and remarks on the proposed document which will be considered and according to which alterations will be made by the next session. It was also decided to post the final version of the draft concept on the committee’s web site.