Having traveled from the Baltic to Black Sea, the participants of the Together in Europe First International Caravan of Journalists of Ukrainian Heritage made a stop in Kyiv to give a press conference. The expedition lasted from May 14 to 28, visiting Poland, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and the Baltic states. This public initiative was aimed at uniting Ukrainian communities in European countries. Members of the caravan decided to make a closer acquaintance with the life of Ukrainian communities of the countries that are candidates for entry to the European Union. Head of the Ukrainian Global Coordination Council Mykhailo Horyn told the journalists that the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” was chosen not by accident, since in the past it was a key link in economic and political life with its center in Kyiv. Commenting on the caravan’s goal, Mr. Horyn stressed, “We must cease the process of denationalization of Ukrainians living abroad.” It was also mentioned that the caravan was the initiator of a project to keep Ukrainians from dissolving in the new united Europe but redouble their efforts at self-preservation and development, strengthening their ties with the country from which they brought and preserved their unique language and cultural traditions. The expedition members were concerned about the alienation of some national minority groups and pressure on their mass media. Solving these problems should be coordinated with the titular nation’s own identity needs. A film will be shot using materials of the expedition and screened to Ukrainian diaspora representatives in European countries. In the organizers’ view, their initiative will foster the improvement of our country’s image and protection of the Ukrainian community abroad, reports Volodymyr DENYSENKO, The Day.
