The Fourth World Congress of Ukrainians will take place on Aug. 18-20 in Kyiv. This date was approved at the first meeting of the organizing committee presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, the governmental press service reports. According to Kyrylenko, Ukrainians residing on the territory of the former Soviet Union will have the largest representation at the congress. He said that the Ukrainian delegation from Russia is expected to be especially large. The congress will be organized and take place under the government’s financial sponsorship. Kyrylenko gave his word that the congress will not be affected by any political changes that might take place after the parliamentary elections. Also present at the meeting were the chairman of the Ukrainian World Coordination Council Mykhailo Horyn, the president of the European Congress of Ukrainians Dmytro Dovhovych, government members, parliamentarians, and representatives of various civic organizations, reports Interfax-Ukraine.
Representatives of Ukraine’s foreign ministry say that the World Congress of Ukrainians will become an important means of informing the international community about changes in Ukraine and the efforts of the president and government. According to Vasyl Filipchuk, head of the ministry’s press service, the congress will be one of the main events during the celebrations of the 15th anniversary of Ukrainian independence. It will serve to promote the development and strengthening of relations with ethnic Ukrainians abroad.
