On June 2, Heads of Churches, former Presidents of Ukraine and known state and public figures, intellectuals issued an appeal to the state leadership of Poland and Polish community.
Renowned national and public figures, heads of Ukrainian traditional churches and intellectuals on the eve of the anniversary of the Volyn tragedy issued a public appeal of reconciliation and wisdom to “prevent hate speech that can replace the Christian sense of forgiveness and understanding,” the UGCC Information Department reports.
They urged Polish partners to refrain from reckless political statements about the past that can be used by third forces to strain the Polish-Ukrainian relations.
Instead of separate national regulations, they offered to return to the tradition of joint bilateral government proclamations and together set a common Memorial Day for the victims of the Polish-Ukrainian conflict during and after the Second World War.
The letter was signed by heads of churches – patriarch Filaret and His Beatitude Sviatoslav, former president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk and Viktor Yushchenko, as well as Vyacheslav Bryukhovetsky Ivan Vasyunyk, Ivan Dziuba, Daniel Lubkivskyy, Dmytro Pavlichko, Volodymyr Panchenko, Myroslav Popovych, Vadym Skurativsky and Igor Yukhnovskyy.
“A particular pain both for Ukraine and Poland remains the Volyn tragedy and the Polish-Ukrainian conflict during the Second World War, which destroyed thousands of innocent brothers and sisters. Killing innocent people has no justification. We ask forgiveness for the committed crimes and wrongs - this is our main motive. We ask forgiveness and forgive equally the crimes and injustices committed against us - it is the only spiritual formula that must be the motive of every Ukrainian and Polish heart that seeks peace and understanding,” goes the appeal.
The appeal noted on equal importance of fraternal relations and emphasized that “the greatest evil of our relations was the inequality that comes from statelessness of Ukraine. As a fatal consequence, the collapse of Ukrainian statehood led to the ruins of the Polish state. This pattern is a tragic axiom of relations between Ukraine and Poland.”
They emphasize that Ukrainian state has yet to form a fully integrate and dignified attitude to the past trials, their causes, personal responsibility for the past and future. However, “the Polish idea has to fully accept the identity of the Ukrainian national tradition as a fair and decent respect for their struggle for statehood and independence.”
Ukrainians called the Polish national authorities and parliamentarians to stop any ill-considered political declaration, “the approval of which will not quench the pain, but only allow our common enemies to use it against Poland and Ukraine. Let us have no doubt that hostility stigma will be put on both communities. Remember also that Kyiv and Warsaw are a strategic eastern pillar of Europe. We realize that the example of our mutual understanding can become a model for the entire European space.”
“On the eve of memorial events, which will begin in July in both countries, we encourage return to the tradition of joint parliamentary appeals that do not divide but unite us in repentance and forgiveness. Guided by the spirit of brotherhood, we call together to establish a common Day of Remembrance for the victims of our past and faith in the repetition of evil,” the appeal notes.ф