The last week I had a pleasure to hear from Volodymyr Lytvyn that he reads this column. I feel then especially obliged to mention his visit to the European Parliament last week in Brussels. Rada’s Chairman hold talks with the leaders of all the biggest political groups in our house. He spoke at the extraordinary joint meeting of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committees an last but not least took part in a closed door frank discussion with those dealing with Ukraine daily, from all three EU institutions, namely — European Parliament, European Commission and the Council, which the author of this text put together.
I have always repeated, the more Ukrainian visits the better. In the aftermath of the gas dispute, in the midst of the economic crisis, not to mention the “complex” — to use this euphemism — political situation in Ukraine, this simply truth is even more important then ever before. That is why, I am very glad that this visit took place.
But, this week I want to bring to your attention another Ukrainian event, which is scheduled to take place in exactly one month. I took an honorary patronage over a conference, which is being organized in the EP, on the Koziavkin Method. Many of the readers may know prof. Koziavkin and his highly effective way of treating patients with cerebral palsy, osteochondrosis, polytrauma and organic lesion of the nervous system. Here in Brussels on the contrary, despite the fact that out of 17 000 patients 7 000 came from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and USA, a vast majority then from the EU countries.
Many times, I heard Ukrainian politicians saying here in the Parliament that Ukraine is a great country because it voluntarily gave up its nuclear arsenal, because it is a country, which produces the biggest transport planes in the world etc. This is all true, but frankly speaking, it is totally irrelevant for today’s relations with the EU and Ukraine’s standing among the EU Member States.
In contrast, the conference, which is being organized, in a very smart way promotes Ukraine and its scientific and medical achievements, which are truly unique in the world. Already couple of thousands of citizens of the European Union benefited from them. In many cases these people got their normal lives back. Ukrainian professor delivered them treatment they were not able to receive in EU hospitals or clinics in any of the 27 Member States. In my opinion this is huge.
I see a great potential in this enterprise, because it is a win win situation - a natural partnership, were both sides are winners. I can only hope that the EU will be “smart” enough to engage in it, with the aim of the Koziavkin method being available to all of us in the European Union, to all the patients, who can be brought back to the labour market of the aging Old Continent.
As I’ve said before it is also a great opportunity for the promotion of the country. By all means this is a way it should be done.
