Centre for Defence Strategies

The second day International Forum of the Crimea Platform: Ukrainian and international experts work on the future security architecture in Kyiv

Today, on July 19, the main day of the International Forum of the Crimea Platform Expert Network “Foreseeing the Future: Expert`s View” started in Kyiv.

Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said that the Crimea Platform started its work in 2021 with a small piece of paper with a vision of work, and now it is a powerful network operating at three levels.

“This is an unprecedented format that currently unites 60 countries and international organizations with one strategic goal – the de-occupation of Crimea. Our goal is to create a clear understanding among our partners that there can be no negotiations without Crimea. The position of the state and the President is clear – there can be no negotiations and agreements without Crimea,” she said.

According to Emine Dzhaparova, Ukrainian diplomacy continues to work in the vein of the Crimea Platform. The next stage is the Summit to be held next month.

In her turn, Ukrainian Member of Parliament Maria Mezentseva emphasized that the parliament does not stop searching for a balance in understanding how we can have an open dialogue with Crimea right now.

Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, noted that the work of the Crimea Platform and the involvement of experts is an opportunity to develop the necessary steps for de-occupation and reintegration.

“We need all the plans for reintegration now, first of all, to regain control over Crimea,” she said.

As a reminder, the International Forum of the Crimea Platform Expert Network “Foreseeing the Future: Expert View`s” started yesterday. Experts from more than 20 countries visited the territories of Kyiv region that suffered the most from the occupation by the russian army and discussed the impact of military operations on the environmental situation in Ukraine and the world.

The Crimea Platform Summit will be held in August

This was stated by Olha Skrypnyk, representative of the Crimean Human Rights Group, during the opening of the second day of the International Forum of the Crimea Platform Expert Network “Foreseeing the Future: Expert`s View”.

“This year, despite the full-scale Russian aggression, all levels are working. Within the framework of the Crimea Platform, the Crimea Platform Summit will be held in August, and the Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform will be held in October,” she said.

As a reminder, the Black Sea Security Conference was held in April under the auspices of the Crimea Platform.

There can be no negotiations without de-occupation of Crimea – Emine Dzhaparova

The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said this during the International Forum of the Crimea Platform Expert Network “Foreseeing the Future: Expert`s View”. 

According to the official, the Crimea Platform is an unprecedented format that currently unites 60 countries and international organizations with one strategic goal – the de-occupation of Crimea. 

“Our goal is to form a clear understanding among our partners that there can be no negotiations without Crimea. There can be no peace in Ukraine without Crimea. There are various proposals. But the position of the state and the President is clear – there can be no negotiations and agreements without Crimea,” said Emine Dzhaparova. 

She added that the International Summit of the Crimea Platform will be held on August 22 and 23. An expert discussion will be held on August 22.

“Today we will hold a meeting with the President where we will present our vision of this event and I am sure that the Summit will be another success of our diplomacy,” said the First Deputy Foreign Minister.

Maria Mezentseva: We already need a dialog with the occupied Crimea and Ukrainians under occupation

This was stated by the People’s Deputy of Ukraine during the International Forum of the Crimea Platform Expert Network “Foreseeing the Future: Expert`s View”.

“In the parliamentary dimension, we would like to achieve a balance in understanding how we can have an open dialogue with Crimea, with Ukrainians who have been under occupation for almost ten years. Because even the European Court of Human Rights has confirmed that Russia’s occupation and aggression, as the highest form of crime, started in March 2014. And it all started with Crimea. It should end with Crimea,” she said.

The Member of Parliament added that the food security of the whole world depends on how soon Crimea is de-occupied and security is established in the Black Sea region.

Plans for reintegration of Crimea are needed now – Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

The de-occupation of Crimea will primarily take place not only in the political and diplomatic dimension, but also by military means. And no matter how it happens, a clear plan for regaining control over the peninsula and the first steps of the state after the liberation of Crimea should be ready.

This was stated today, on July 19, during the International Forum of the Crimea Platform Expert Network “Foreseeing the Future: Expert`s View” Tamila Tasheva, the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

“We do not know how it will happen (de-occupation – ed.). Perhaps, the russian army will leave a lot of destruction behind. But we understand that we need all the plans for reintegration, first of all, to regain control over Crimea,” she said.

The Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea added that there is already a request from Ukrainian citizens to clearly understand the issues of property and responsibility for crimes committed in the occupied territories. Therefore, these aspects need to be worked out before the de-occupation of the peninsula.

Crimea Restoration Reserve program launched in Ukraine: all interested are invited to join the peninsula’s restoration team

At the initiative of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and in cooperation with ministries and agencies, an experimental project, the Crimean Restoration Reserve, has been launched.

This was announced today, on July 19, during the International Forum of the Crimea Platform Expert Network “Foreseeing the Future: Expert`s View” Tamila Tasheva, the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

“I urge those citizens who are ready to go to the territory of Crimea to submit their candidacies to this personnel reserve. It is important for us to create a “Crimea team” that will work on the peninsula after de-occupation. We already have about a thousand applications. 80% of them are from Crimea. This means that everyone believes in the inevitability of de-occupation,”

Tamila Tasheva added that work is currently underway to develop academic programs. In September, the first master’s program on the course “Post-conflict settlement in the de-occupied territories” will start.