Leaders of the Polish and Ukrainian parliaments spoke about the joint fight for independence

Press release, 13 November 2018

In the framework of the 9th Session of the Assembly of Members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland, and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Andrii Parubii, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Stanisław Karczewski, Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, gave their speeches at the sitting of the Seimas.

In his speech, the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stressed Lithuania’s role in Ukraine’s fight for freedom: “On behalf of the whole Ukraine and all Ukrainians, I want to thank you all for your support that we have felt for a hundred years and, in particular, for the last five years of our struggle. Thank you.”

In the context of Ukraine’s continued fight for independence, Mr Parubii spoke about the need to join forces in order to ensure not only the security of the Ukrainian state but also the security of the whole world. “The inter-parliamentary Assembly of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania is convened for the purpose of providing us with the opportunity to discuss and offer the algorithms for ensuring our security, including the security of energy and economic sectors,” he said.

Speaking about Lithuania’s and Poland’s joint fight for independence, Mr Karczewski said the following: “We both lost our independence after 20 years and regained it 50 years later. Poland was first to break free from the outer ring of the Soviet empire, while Lithuania was first to escape the inner ring. I express my deepest respect for the founding fathers of the re-established independence of Lithuania. Though being separate states, Poland and Lithuania share their independence because independence comes to and leaves our states at the same time.”

Photos of the Office of the Seimas (author Olga Posaškova)

The Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland said that, having learned the lessons given us by our historical experience, we together should foster our independence and defend it when necessary. Standing at the rostrum in the Seimas, Mr Karczewski expressed the support of his state to Ukraine that was currently fighting for its freedom.

Saulė Eglė Trembo, Chief Specialist, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 239 6203, e-mail: [email protected]