Dear Ambassador David Geer,

Your Excellencies,

Dear students,

 

I highly appreciate the invitation of the honorable Mr. Geer to attend the event, which is dedicated to mark one year since russian military aggression against Ukraine began. On February 24^th, 2022, russia launched an unprovoked full-scale armed aggression against the Ukrainian state. Earlier, as you know, in February 2014, russia temporarily occupied the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and parts of the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

russia has been waging war against Ukraine for 9 years in a row with the aim of destroying Ukraine as a sovereign state, exterminating Ukrainians as a nation, and erasing Ukrainian identity.

Ukraine resists the russian aggression and confidently liberates its sovereign territory, having a several times smaller army and fewer weapons.

The act of russian military aggression undermined European and global security, causing a process of radical transformation of EU and NATO security policies. EU and NATO countries have united in their support for Ukraine.

During the chairmanship of the Republic of North Macedonia in the OSCE, the situation in Ukraine will remain the main priority in the focus of the Macedonian chairmanship, primarily in the context of guaranteeing the security of citizens in an era of regional and global instability.

War is always about death and destruction, the war of the terrorist state russia against Ukrainians became a tragedy. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies launched an investigation into 69.768 war crimes and crimes of aggression committed since February 24^th. Approximately 3 million people were left homeless.

After February 24^th, 2022, fleeing from the russian barbarians, more than 7 million Ukrainians left Ukraine, approximately 7 million became internally displaced people.

The russian federation, using its advantage in artillery, aviation, and missiles, resorts to "scorched earth" tactics, houses, hospitals, and schools are purposefully being destroyed.

Using bombings and artillery fire, the russian army damaged 3,126 educational institutions, 338 of them were completely destroyed.

During the war, russian troops killed 461 children, wounded 923; 348 children went missing, more than 16 thousand were illegally deported to the russian federation.

The large-scale russian aggression caused a number of complex problems in Ukrainian education.

Primarily, this concerns the forcibly displaced children who were forced to interrupt their studies for a period of time. The destruction of educational infrastructure facilities - kindergartens, schools, universities - is a colossal damage.

The system of education and the educational process under the conditions of martial law in Ukraine managed to be preserved and restored. Above all, due to distance education, online education made it possible to ensure the educational process.

A requirement for all schools and universities in Ukraine is the presence of a bomb shelter, which must be technically equipped with everything necessary in the event of a russian missile attack. In case of an attack, classes take place in those shelters.

Universities from dangerous regions of Ukraine were relocated to the territory of Ukraine where hostilities are not taking place, for example, several universities from Mariupol moved to Kyiv and Dnipro.

Also, Ukrainian students and scientists received Ukrainian and grant support, in particular, through EU institutions - through the projects "Science for Ukraine", "ERA4Ukraine", support programs of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, Poland, the Vienna Institute of Humanities.

Thousands of children who were forced to leave Ukraine due to the large-scale invasion of russia also study in schools in Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, and Romania, at the same time, Ukrainian students are still studying according to the standards of Ukrainian education, obtaining it remotely/online.

Unfortunately, Ukrainian general education institutions do not exist outside of Ukraine. There are so-called Sunday schools at public organizations of Ukrainians abroad, but they are not accredited educational institutions.

The Republic of North Macedonia provided temporary protection to more than 350 Ukrainians who were forced to leave the territory of Ukraine. Ukrainian children study in Macedonian schools, receiving their education in the Macedonian language. Of course there are certain challenges and difficulties that they overcome. In this connection, support is needed not only from the family, but also the creation of a friendly environment is very important in order to overcome internal traumas and adapt to new circumstances faster.

It is very valuable that during today's event you will discuss the “Resolution on expressing solidarity and demanding action regarding russia’s war in Ukraine”, which creates conditions for a deeper understanding of Article 26 of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, which provides, in particular, that "Everyone has the right to education . Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms." The fact that you young people are ready to discuss such complex things - war, migration processes, continuing education during crisis situations, for me personally shows not only your education, but also your willingness to help and support, which is a sign of compassion, a trait of not only highly educated people, but of highly spiritual people as well.

I am sincerely grateful for your support and help! I wish you the energy to learn, to think critically and to remain open-hearted.