Yuri Bilukha, Olga Vlasenko,
Edip Gafarov, Natalia Pavlik
in collaboration with S. Kunitsyn, Head
of Crimean Regional Organization
the People- Democratic Party of Ukraine,
Head of Crimean Council of Ministers
from 1998 to 2001.

The Third International Donor Conference
for Assistance in the Return and Integration of FDP

(6 December 2000)

This digest contains the reports, statements and speeches of the III International Donor Conference was organized by the State Department for matters of nationalities and migration in co-operation with UNDP, UNHCR, OSCE. Representatives of 30 diplomatic missions, international organizations and foundations accredited in Ukraine, a number of Ukrainian ministries and other central government institutions participated in the Conference.

Unofficial version

President of Ukraine

Greeting address of the President of Ukraine to the participants of the Third International Donor Conference for assistance in the return and integration of FDP in Autonomous Republic of Crimea

I greet the participants of this Conference devoted to the problem of particular importance to our State.

We are grateful to OSCE and UN Representation in Ukraine for initiation to hold this Conference. It means that the process of providing international assistance in settlement and integration of Crimean Tatars and other formerly deported peoples (FDP) officially launched in Geneva Palace of Nations in April 1996 is now filled with practical contents.

Creation of proper economic and social conditions for FDP, who are returning to their historical motherland, is the matter of special attention of the State power in Ukraine. I am convinced that the Conference will demonstrate the understanding of difficulties we meet in the process of settlement and housing of the returnees by many countries, international organizations and foundations; I am also convinced that recommendations and resolutions adopted by the Conference will materialize in concrete and practical support of our efforts.

Cooperation and partnership with international institutions and organizations in this noble humanitarian sphere is one more obvious proof that Ukraine consistently follows the road of democracy and continues to integrate into European and world community. I wish to all of you fruitful and constructive work.

L. Kuchma

Max van der Stoel
OSCE High Commissioner
for National Minorities

Dear Vice Prime Minister,
Dear Excellencies Ambassadors,
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is great pleasure to participate in this conference dedicated to resettlement of FDP. This is enormous problem to solve. This involves more sides than mere OSCE, UNDP, Crimean and Ukrainian Governments. For this process is very sensitive. It includes, firs of all, social programs, repairing and construction of schools and business development. And it also requires donors’ assistance.

I thank UNDP for the assistance to this process. As there are involved so many people there is an urgent need for financial assistance. I hope you will help this year and next years and meet many requests for assistance.

I call on you to pay special attention to the problem of resettlement of Crimean Tatars and other deported people. This people absolutely lost sources for living. For many, many, many years they were deported mainly to the region of Central Asia, before they were able to return to Crimea.

International community has already contributed to the process of resettlement. So, I hope this conference will also make a contribution.

Thank you.

Official addresses and greetings

Mykola Zhulynsky
Vice-Prime Minister of Ukraine

Ladies and Gentlemen!

Let me say a few words at the opening of this extremely important event. On behalf of the Government of Ukraine I express our thanks to all of you. We highly appreciate your understanding of our problems and hope that our mutual efforts can considerably facilitate the process of return and settlement of thousands persons who were forcibly deported by totalitarian regime to their historical motherland.

Careful consideration of the problems related to repatriation and integration of Crimean Tatars at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in April 2001 and adoption of appropriate recommendations show that the international community is aware of the actuality of the outstanding problems. In September 2001 a seminar ”The Role of International Organizations and Donor Institutions in Solving Problems of Integration into Ukrainian Society of the Persons Deported on Account of Their Ethnic Origin from the Territory of the Crimea” was held jointly with Directorate General for Social Affairs Health of the Council of Europe.

We have developed fruitful co-operation with OSCE. In this connection I express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Max van der Stoel who in the post of OESC High Commissioner for National Minorities paid special attention to the problems of FDP settlement and who is one of the sponsors of this Conference. I recall my first meeting with Mr. van der Stoel five years ago. And I saw then, Mr. van der Stoel, your deep and sincere interest to the problems faced by Crimean Tatars. I am convinced that your activities on your high post permitted to make all possible to preserve interethnic peace in Ukraine, to provide us with the possibility to solve complex problems conflict free and in accordance with the requirements of international norms.

Permit me to express satisfaction with the level of mutual understanding reached, first of all, with organizations and institutions of the United Nations family, particularly UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, and UNHCR.

The level of mutual understanding may be illustrated by following figures. During the last three years financial funds provided by international donors to the programs aimed at settlement of FDP who are returning to Ukraine reached more than 10 million US dollars.

Taking this opportunity I want on behalf of the Government of Ukraine to thank the representatives of the countries which closely and fruitfully co-operated with us in this sphere: Switzerland, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Great Britain, etc. I also wish to mention substantial contributions of Holy Seat, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Turkish agency TIKA, International Organization on Migration, other international institutions.

I express particular gratitude to International Renaissance Foundation. This Foundation commenced its activities in Ukraine in 1997. It provides financing of the program “Integration of deported Crimean Tatars, Bulgarians, Armenians, Greeks, and Germans into Ukrainian society”. In the framework of this Program during 1997-2000 periods the Foundation implemented 255 projects totaling 1 million 307 thousand US dollars.

With the assistance of the Netherlands Government the Gasprinskiy Crimean Tatars Republican Library (Gasprinskiy Library) was restored. We are deeply grateful for assistance in such an important area.

An important contribution was made by FRG Government in providing housing for FDP of German origin who returned to the South Regions of Ukraine. Its agent in Ukraine -German Society of Technical Co-operation - have built 132 cottage-type houses, a school for 192 pupils, a paramedical and obstetrical site and a number of small processing shops in Odessa region.

The Joint German-Ukrainian Commission on matters of ethnic Germans living in Ukraine at its last session held in May 2000 in Odessa considered the prospects of further bilateral co-operation as well as practical proposals in this field. An agreement on simplified renunciation of Uzbek citizenship reached between Ukraine and Uzbekistan got wide international approval. The leadership of Uzbekistan has demonstrated understanding of one of the most difficult problems related to integration of FDP into Ukrainian society. We can state with deep satisfaction that due to common efforts of the Ukrainian and Uzbekistan Governments, UNHCR and a number of Non Government Organizations out of the total 62 thousand formerly deported Crimean Tatars holding Uzbek nationality some 56 thousand have already benefited from the Simplified Citizenship Procedure agreed between the Governments of Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Remaining about 7 thousand persons, mainly for personal reasons, decided not to make use of the simplified procedure for renunciation of Uzbek citizenship. It is obvious that we would like to have more effective co-operation with other countries where were living and still live FDP.

The representatives of donor countries and organizations who are present in this hall will give more detailed information about their activities and plans for the future in this field.

On its part the Government of Ukraine makes its outmost to promote the process the process of adaptation and integration of FDP into Ukrainian society. The volume of state financing of these programs, in particular, is evidencing to this: state budget financing for 2000 was 4 times greater than the previous years and reached 40 millions GRN.

On the whole state financing from the time of the first Donor Conference, reached almost 60 mln. GRN. Of these 43 mln. GRN was directed to capital construction that permitted to build 18 thousand sq. m. of dwelling space, more than 100 km of electricity supply networks, about 60 km of water pipelines, 26 km of gas pipelines, 2 schools for 800 pupils and a number of other objects.

Speaking about our modest achievements, we must not forget that a number of very serious problems remain unsolved. It concerns first of all the provision of repatriates with housing, unsatisfactory state of infrastructure in places of repatriates’ compact settlement. Acute situation exists in employment and health care, which at present cannot satisfy even elementary needs.

And this, undoubtedly, is explained by the shortage of resources needed to finance the mentioned priority areas of the repatriates’ settlement process. But we adopted the National Program of Settlement of FDP who had returned to Crimea for 2001-2005 periods. You have the Summary of the Program before you.

We hope that joint efforts of the Ukrainian Government, the donor countries, international organizations and foundations aimed at the implementation of the propose programs will permit to improve to the maximum possible degree the situation in settlement of persons, deported on account of their ethnic origin, and their adaptation and integration into Ukrainian society.

We are not ashamed to apply to the international community for assistance in solution of the repatriates problems. We are not ashamed because it is not the Ukrainian State that created this problem. But Ukrainian State, the Government of Ukraine does their best to solve existing problems in order to maintain civil peace and stability. The President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma pays particular attention to this problem. You know that during this year under the guidance of the President’s three Meetings of the Council of the Representatives of Crimean Tatars People attached to the President were held. The last meeting was held place in Crimea (in Bakhchisaray). The President keeps the implementation of the meetings resolutions under personal control.

I wish to notice that the greeting address of the president to the participants of this Conference is also a sign that we highly appreciate the assistance provided by donor countries, international organizations and foundations in settlement of repatriates. We understand that the problem of civil peace, interethnic concord, forming of the consolidated Ukrainian society is not only Ukrainian problem. We know that these problems are of interest to Europe and European organizations. In this field we co-operate with mutual understanding. And we would like to say that these problems, if successfully and effectively resolved, will contribute to integration of Ukraine into European community and maintenance of peace and calm in Europe.

Opening this Conference I would like once more to thank on behalf of the Government of Ukraine all those who are taking part in the Conference and to express my deep belief that together we shall solve the outstanding problems and the Conference will be a success. Thank you for your attention.

I.M. Zlenko
Foreign Minister of Ukraine

Dear Mr. Zhulinskiy
Dear Mr. van der Stoel
Dear Mr. Gardner
Dear ladies and gentlemen
Dear Participants!

I am glad to greet you at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the opening of the Third International Donor Conference for assistance in the return and integration of FDP in Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Frankly speaking, we have big hopes on international assistance in the return and integration of FDP in Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

I hope that the Conference will help to attract attention of the world community to common efforts of Ukrainian Government, international organizations and foundations directed at satisfaction of urgent needs of repatriates and their integration into Ukrainian society. This Conference should also contribute to determine concrete ways of further activization of international co-operation in this sphere.

Today I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the donor countries, which made an important contribution to implementation of the first stages of the Crimea Integration and Development Program started in 1995, particularly to governments of Switzerland, Canada, Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Greece, Italy and Vatican. We also are grateful to UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, OSCE, UNHCR, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Red Cross Committee. Without your assistance we could not built these dwellings, schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and to provide jobs for those who have returned from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Russian Federation.

I address special thanks to Mr. Max van der Stoel for his constant attention to these problems and particularly for organizing this Conference.

It is known that accommodation of FDP’s is one of the most acute problems inherited by Ukraine from deformed Stalinist national policy. Among those who have returned to Crimea there are more than a quarter of million of Crimean Tatars, about 12 thousand of ethnic Bulgarians, Armenians, Greeks and Germans. Therefore restoration of social justice with respect to these persons, maintenance of civil peace and tolerance in places of their compact settlement has become one of the priority tasks of independent Ukraine.

The return of deported, particularly Crimean Tatars, and solution of the problems connected with their accommodation have no analogue in world history. Besides, this problem is aggravated by the lack of the proper legal basis. I mean that from the point of view of international law this category of persons does not fall under the UN Convention on Refuges adopted in 1951. They cannot be treated neither as migrants in common sense of the term, nor as displaced persons. Consequently, formally they are outside of the competence of the corresponding international institutions. Besides, the tasks of their accommodation are rather different from those related to refuges and migrants. However a lot was done in Ukraine to implement the Program of FDP’s integration. Solution of this problem has become a subject of State policy. Particularly, an important part of housing, social infrastructure construction was financed from the State Budget of Ukraine and the budget of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

As Mr. Zhulinsky already mentioned, the President and the Government of Ukraine pay much attention to the solution of Crimean Tatars and other FDP’s problems connected with their repatriation.

In this respect I have to mention once more the third in this year meeting of the President of Ukraine with members of the Council of Crimean Tatars people attached to the President of Ukraine that took place on November 10 in Bakhchisaray. According to its results a number of decisions aimed at qualitative improvement of the situation in solving the problems, connected with accommodation of FDP in Crimea.

Provision of corresponding legal basis remains one of the priority directions the Ministry of Foreign Affairs activity. It apply first of all to the conclusion of corresponding agreements with the countries where from these persons are returning.

For the time being we have such agreements with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Similar agreements with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are under preparation. An agreement to begin consultation on this problem is reached with Russian Federation.

I would like to stress that we shall not stop at the achieved. We were working and will continue to work to achieve positive results. Despite all the do our difficulties we shall do our best to inshure the rights of FDP in our country.

At the same time we hope to receive international assistance in solution of problems connected with repatriation and accommodation of FDP. We hope to receive not only moral support.

Concluding my speech, I would like to express my hopes for positive results of the Conference. I am sure that the Conference will give a new impetus for international co-operation in this very important sphere. We have to take care of the fate of deported persons, of their future and their well being. Thank You for your attention.

N.I.Khandurin
Deputy Minister of Justice

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of the Minister of Justice I greet everybody in this hall. The very fact that this Conference take place witnesses the importance of the of FDP’s problems not only for Ukraine but also for their understanding by international institutions.

Having taken the course of civilized development, which is secured in the Constitution, Ukraine occupies a deserving position among independent European states as a full and equal member of the Council of Europe. Hereby Ukraine testifies its aspiration for building its own future on the principles of supremacy of law, civic society and the principles of genuine democracy.

Time constantly raise before us radically new problems that require new creative solutions each time. In our progressive movement to a contemporary democratic state we are basing on the support of our citizens, the understanding of the world community and experience of other countries. At the same time we have to solve unique issues the civilized world never had faced before, i.e. solving the problems of persons deported on account of their ethnic origin.

The state ethnic - national policy is being formed in Ukraine, including measures aimed at meeting needs of ethnic minorities. This policy is legally based on the Constitution of Ukraine, Declaration of the Soverenity of Ukraine, Declaration of the Rights of the Nationalities in Ukraine and other legislative acts.

The government in co-operation with Verkhovna Rada’s members and Committees constantly works on elaboration of draft laws and finding resources to support the process of integration and adaptation of FDP into Ukrainian society.

The President as well as Government understands that without support of the donor countries, international organizations and foundations Ukraine will have to meet problems of repatriation, accommodation and integration of FDP into Ukrainian community on its own.

Consultative and technical aid proposals must be implemented and controlled by proper national and international organizations.

Common efforts of Ukrainian State and international organizations aimed at civilized solution of urgent needs of repatriates created a kind of equilibrium of interests between various ethnic groups.

There are still a lot to be done in development and perfection of national legislation in the sphere of interethnic relations. We have to insure the proper level of FDP accommodation arriving and living in Ukraine. We must to do our best to preserve interethnic peace and tolerance. We hope for successful resolutions of the said problems.

Thank You for your attention!

E.S. Gafarov
Chairman of Crimean Republican Committee

for Nationalities and Deported Citizens (Rescomnats)

Ladies and Gentlemen!

I take this occasion to draw your attention to the problem of socio-economic and cultural integration of repatriates into Ukrainian society.

The experience of repatriation and accommodation of FDP in Crimea shows that this process will be continued in XXI century and in the following years will remain an acute problem both for Crimea and Ukraine as a whole. At the same time return and accommodation of more then 260 thousand persons in Crimea which have no analogs in contemporary world full of interethnic conflicts have become possible only due to realistic and constructive state policy, Crimean authorities’ efforts and also to continuous dialogue between executive power and leaders of Crimean Tatars national movement. At the same time, many repatriates’ problems remain unsolved. First of all concerns housing, employment, engineering and communications networks in places of FDP compact settlement and ethno cultural development.

More then half of repatriates have not houses of their own, many can not find jobs. Many settlements have no electricity and water supply, other elementary everyday conveniences. Inhabitants of these settlements are isolated from normal living conditions and survive only due to work on their personal lots. Unfavorable natural factors (heavy showers, landslides etc) aggravate the situation.

The state that carries the main burden of expenses related to repatriates accommodation can not be blamed for this. But instability of national economy can not insure regular financing of accommodation programs.

It must be stressed that international community pays increasing attention to the problems of repatriates. Ukrainian government appeals to United Nations, OSCE and other international organizations for international assistance in implementation of repatriation and accommodation of FDP are beginning to bring results.

At the request of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in 1995 an OSCE Mission was opened in Crimea. The task of the Mission is the analysis of the situation in Autonomous Republic of Crimea, finding of possibilities of interethnic conflicts prevention, the raise of Non Government Organizations role and mass media. Due to the Mission activities international organizations and experts were engaged to solution of repatriates and refugees problems. In May 1999 the Mission activity was stopped as its task has been achieved.

Under the United Nations aegis Crimea Integration and Development Program (CIDP) was elaborated. On the initiative of Council of Ministers of Autonomous Republic of Crimea a Mission for implementation of this program was established in1996 in Simferopol. Priority directions of the Mission activity were fixed in Simferopol and Sudak cities. Due to co-operation between Crimean executive authorities and CIDP a number of important projects have been implemented: construction of an elementary school and a hospital in micro-district Kamianka of Kievsky region of Simferopol city, engineering system of ant flood protection. In social sphere there were created two home based schools, public committees of local planning and technical working parties for elaboration of projects requiring donor financing were established. During 1996-1998 period a number of projects for the total amount of 1 mln. 174 thousand USD had been implemented.

In 1999 a decision was taken to expand CIDP activities to Bilogirskiy and Bakhchisaraisky Districts with compact settlements of repatriates where they number 33 and 22 percent of residents in Bilogirskiy and Bakhchisaraiskiy Districts correspondingly.

In October 1998 Rescomnats together with CIDP and local authorities of Belogorsk and Bakhchisaray signed agreements on co-operation. It permitted to mobilize international donors resources and internal means to build settlements in these districts. The institutions of local government got the possibility to define priority problems of FDP accommodation, to propose the ways of their solution. Total sum of financial resources mobilized by CIDP in 1999 for provision of assistance to repatriates amounted to 1 mln. 567 thousand dollars.

Now 6 projects of water supply systems are being implemented in Bakhchisaray. The flood control system is constructed in Sary-Su settlement of Belogoirsky District, a number of projects in health, education and youth problems spheres are carried out. In 1996 at the request of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine the Representation of UNHCR was opened in Crimea. The main goal of UNHCR activities is the assistance to refugees and FDP.

According to its mandate UNHCR started implementation of a number of programs aimed at satisfaction of urgent needs of refugees and repatriates. UNHCR is implementing “Employment for Income Generation” Program. In 1998-1999 period alone more then 200 projects got support of the Program for the sum totaling more then USD 55 thousand. The Representation of UNHCR in Crimea provided considerable technical assistance to Rescomnats and Migration Board Administration of the Council of Ministers of Crimea aimed at improvement of information and registration work with migrants and refugees. Material assistance is provided to persons who received refugee status.

UNHCR Program aimed at provision of legal, expert and consultative assistance to state and public organizations dealing with problems of migration, citizenship and material aid to FDP.

During 1999 UNHCR Mission contributed to the implementation of the Uzbekistan-Ukraine agreement on simplified procedure of obtaining Ukrainian citizenship by FDP. Due to the UNHCR participation in this program a comprehensive information campaign was implemented, including use of TV and radio broadcasting, publishing of information booklets and posters. A booklet explaining the law of Ukraine “On the Ukrainian Citizenship” was published in Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian languages.

In 1997 International Organization for Migration jointed the assistance campaign. Its Mission in Crimea provided a part of financial recourses for building of a polyclinic in Ismail-Bay District of Evpatoriya and engineering networks in Akropolis settlement.

Assistance to the process of Crimean Tatars adaptation is also provided by International Renaissance Foundation that are implementing a series of projects concerning the revival of culture and education of FDP, gives assistance to scientists and students in organization of their trip to various conferences and seminars that take place both in Ukraine and abroad.

Beginning from 1997 International Red Cross commenced its activities aimed at promotion of forming and implementation of humanitarian aid programs.

Dear participants, I would like to stress that solution of repatriates accommodation is really a priority task for The Crimean Council of Ministers and we constantly work at it. Lately the actual financing of the above programs from the Republican budget had increased. It permitted to enlarge volumes of building and construction works and to increase the number of completed objects. Supreme Council of Crimea adopted the Program of FDP accommodation and social and cultural development for 2000. Programs for the years to come are under preparation.

Nevertheless, the situation of FDP remains very complex. Now provision of normal housing for Crimean Tatars alone it is necessary to built 1.5 mln of sq. m. living space, of which construction of 500 thousand sq. m. should be financed by State. To complete electrification and water supply of compact FDP settlements it is necessary to build 200 hundred km. of electricity supply lines and more then 800 km of water supply pipelines.

In this connection it is necessary to single out the most important problems. These are:

• provision of repatriates with dwellings, completion of electricity and water supply lines, building of proper motor roads and other elements of infrastructure;
• jobs creation and employment, organization of small enterprises and individual farms;
• solution of problems in humanitarian sphere and first of all the problems of education in native language, reconstruction of historical and cultural monuments.

Taking into account the above said I have to draw Your attention at the possibility of implementation of joint projects with participation international organizations and donor countries. Advantage of such co-operation lies in more effective use of Ukrainian state financial and financial assistance provided by international community. First steps have been done in this direction. In August 1999 Crimean Consultative Council attached to Crimean Council of Ministers was established for this purpose. Its aim is to improve coordination of efforts between Crimean executive power institutions and the representations of international organizations. We hope that this Conference will provide a new impetus to the process of international co-operation and to attraction of international organizations to solution of repatriates’ problems, revival of their culture, social adaptation and integration or repatriates into Ukrainian society.

Thank You.

G. Udovenko
Chairman of Verkhovna Rada
Committee for problems of human rights,
national minorities and interethnic relations

Dearladies and gentlemen!

Firs of all I would like to express my thanks to the representatives of donor countries and international organizations who showed understanding of the problems faced by Ukraine and who provide feasible assistance in the solution of repatriates problems.

Accommodation and integration into Ukrainian Community of Crimean Tatars and other FDP who were unlawfully deported from Ukraine is one of the most painful problems standing before Ukraine. Analyses of the repatriation process shows that dragging out the solution of the most acute problems may result may create the possibility of dangerous tendencies in socio-political sphere and their disregard can cause social and interethnic conflicts.

Verkhovna Rada “Committee for problems of human rights, national minorities and interethnic relations” headed by my actively works at creation of legal basis necessity to insure the FDP’s rights.

We have prepared and carried out parliamentary hearings concerning legislative regulation and implementation of the state policy aimed at insuring the rights of Crimean Tatars and representatives of national minorities who were deported and are now voluntary returning to Ukraine. As a result of the hearings Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution approving corresponding recommendations that determine urgent measures to be taken to cardinally improve the realization of the state policy in this sphere. In order to insure the implementation of this Resolution the Committee has submitted to Verkhovna Rada a draft law “On the Status of Crimean Tatars People”. Consideration of this bill is included in the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada VI Session. Presently the situation in accommodation of FDP remains complicated. In order to understand the magnitude of the problem we have to take into consideration following factors.

At the beginning it was supposed that repatriation of FDP will take place step by step, that would permit to solve emerging problems of repatriates accommodation (including housing, employment etc.) according to the State’s economic and financial possibilities. However mass and uncontrolled immigration of FDP to Ukraine, particularly to Crimea, created serious legal, economic, social and humanitarian problems that cannot be immediately solved especially in conditions of a prolonged economic crises.

Accommodation of Crimean Tatars People requires significant material and financial resources for construction of dwellings and social and economic infrastructure.

According to experts estimates, solution of outstanding socio-economic, political, legal and humanitarian problems requires no less than 2 milliard USD. The State Budget centralized expenses for these purposes reached more then 300 mln USD in 1991-1999 period. It is clear however that such volumes and ways of financing will lengthen this process for many decades to come. At the same time we have to take into account that the process of FDP return is going on. According to various estimates the number of Crimean Tatars willing to return to their historical Motherland now is 450-500 thousand persons. As of today only 260 thousand of them could returned. And once more I have to stress that Ukraine does have neither possibilities nor resources to solve these problems on its own.

Therefore attraction of other material and financial resources is of particular importance. Our State hope and count to get real support from world community. Unfortunately CIS Countries-members where from FDP are returning to Ukraine removed from participation in the process of repatriation despite Ukraine initiated the signing of Bishkek Agreement and a number of bilateral agreements.

I want to remain once more of the support of international inter-governmental and non governmental organizations which in the last three years reached more then USD 10 millions. Active co-operation with UNHCR, UN Representation in Ukraine, International Organization for Migration and other institutions are already bringing positive results.

This Conference is one more step in the direction of joining My State efforts and efforts of international community in practical reconstitution of FDP rights. It will help to preserve peace and stability not only in Ukraine but in the whole world.

Thank You.

R.A. Chubarov
Deputy Head of Verkhovna Rada
Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations
Vice Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People

Dear Mr. Chairman!
Dear honored participants of the Conference!

Permit me on behalf of the Council of representatives of the Crimean Tatar People attached to the President of Ukraine to great all participants of the Conference!

Entering the XXI century Ukraine will have, unlike its neighbors, to exert significant efforts aimed at solution of problems related to the consequences of humanitarian catastrophes caused by totalitarian regime. One of such problems is the problem of Crimean Tatar people.

At the same time we have all reasons to be sure that the time will come when all Crimean Tatars will be accommodated in their native land, will have adequate conditions for life and work and will get all the possibilities for their national culture development. Our certitude is based on the principle position of the Ukrainian State as to return and accommodation of Crimean Tatars and its all-round support of this process. And this is really so. If for nearly 45 years there have not been counteraction to the return and accommodation of Crimean Tatar people to their native land, we would not have this problem. But it so happened that the return of Crimean Tatars has also become a problem for Ukraine. You have before you a publication “Кримські студії” (Crimean Studies) devoted to the events of 60-70-ieth concerning Crimean Tatars. Persons trying to return have been every time deported from Crimea and Ukraine. Taking into account these bygone events you can understand that Ukraine needs international aid in its efforts to help Crimean Tatars.

On behalf of Crimean Tatar community I take this opportunity to thank you once more for the assistance given by your countries and by international organizations.

Believe me, all the peoples who are now in a very difficult situation are very grateful for any attention and assistance in solution of their problems. For many of them even simple expression of sympathy means assistance. For Crimean Tatars it is extremely important to understand that they are not left alone with their problems.

I wish to all of you fruitful work in joining our efforts for the sake of calm and peace of people, for formation of a really tolerant society.

Thank You for attention.

Presentation of UN Programme

Douglas Gardner,
UN Resident Coordinator

I will focus on the issues that UNDP and UNHCR are facing. I’ve been asked by Mr. Garry Perkins the Representative of UNHCR to speak on his behalf. He is not here because of medical reasons. I would also like to touch the possibility of inclusion of our sister agencies UNFPA and UNICEF.

Crimea is one of the most photogenic places I’ve ever visited. So if you permit, Mr. Chairman, I would like to share some remarks with your using photographs as a backdrop.

To illustrate some of the points that have been raised earlier I want to share with you a walking history of Mr. Karayman Ismailov. He was born in Crimea in 1890, he is 110 years old. He lived under the last two Russian chars. When the Bolsheviks came to power in ruled Crimea he was 28. And at the age of 51 he served in the Soviet Army during World War II. He was captured and escaped and found his way back to Crimea. But he was there on the 18^th of May 1944 when he, his parents, pregnant wife and 6 kids were invited to leave their house with 10 minutes notice. He joined 200.000 people in the period of 60 hours in this deportation back to distinct lands. What followed was the story I won’t go in the details on, but tin a serious of movements, when he went first to the Urals without his family who was in Uzbekistan, he tried to reach them, and he was arrested and beaten. And it was not until 1954 when Mr. Stalin passed that he was finally reunited with his family. In 1988 he returned to Crimea, where he now lives. But he is not in his village of origin, so still considers himself an exile. But he does have the passport. He does have 40 grandchildren, some of them grand children. And he is well enough to sing songs and hold his great grandchildren. What I found very interesting is when he is asked what is his regime that allows him to live till the age of 110, he says that is not his tobacco free and alcohol free diet, but that is the fact that eats a lot of garlic. He is frequently chastised by his 75-year daughter for chasing women in the 80-th.

I read this story with you to bring to life his history in a very personal way. And what I find very striking about this gentleman is that he does not have any bitterness. He is, I think, a tribute to human survival skills and the power of hope is very strikingly the magnetism that I think we all have for our families and our homeland.

If you multiply this story 200.000 times, you have the story of Crimea – the story of the people who have returned voluntarily to their homes, many of them brought with them some money, but with the hyperinflation in early 1990-th much of that money evaporated.

I would like to turn to some of the issues that Mr. Ismailov and all of the FDP are facing. The one that was mentioned by one of the earlier speakers in housing and shelter. The people who returned don’t have their homes of origin. They are either occupied by somebody else or disappeared. What they are doing - is living in the basement unfixed structures or in some occasions buildings are basically shelters with roofs over their heads.

Support infrastructure. Again and again we return to the question of water, electricity, for shelter, for roads. Debts and incomes were also mentioned. 60-70% of FDP are reported to be unemployed The HDR ranges Crimea at the lowest level in terms of GDP per capita and in term of life expectancy.

Health. Big issues are there largely because of conditions people are living in. The decreases of poverty are TB and Hepatitis Education. Both education and health face problems of access to and the quality of health and education.

Legal issues. It is extremely important for FD Person to obtain his passport not just for citizenship for sake. That citizenship allows him to get job, allows him to register, and allows him work in a bank. The citizenship’s is absolutely huge issue. The real movement back to Ukraine began after 1989. Those that moved within the Soviet Union up to 1991 were able to get Ukrainian citizenship that amounted to about 150.000 people. The 108.000 people, who have arrived after 1991 have faced a number of issue. Here the accord that was mentioned with Uzbekistan was absolutely huge since about 70% of returnees were based in Uzbekistan. However, the issue is not over. There are still 21.000 returnees who do not yet have Ukrainian citizenship. Likewise, in those district lands there are still up to 250.000 FDP who remained outside of Crimea. I think we can acknowledge that there has been a tremendous progress on citizenship and I think we also have to acknowledge the very sensitive way that this has been handled by national authorities and local authorities.

There are ongoing issues of inclusion. You can imagine the situation existing in neighborhood, when now people arrive of the different religion, of the different culture, inclusion is a big issue. Inclusion of both women and men. And the inclusion of these returnees in the decision making process that are taken by the local administrators. This last issue in terms of inclusion is critical. Because without it you get the feeling of anger, of fear, of frustration. And we’ve seen around the globe that this has been the formula for conflicts.

It was in these circumstances that the UN with its experiences and resources in this turmoil was invited by Ukraine and by Crimea to help. I would like to move now to UNHCR, UNDP and this really extraordinary complementarily between organizations is that UNHCR focuses on the priority issues: citizenship, housing and shelter. UNDP as a human development organization focuses on conflict prevention.

UNHCR began its work in 1997 in close collaboration with Government and OSCE focusing on the obstacles, what it takes to become a citizen. And there was a very intensive “Citizenship Campaign” that focused on information, counselling, awareness of local communities that may now try to reach people.

UNHCR had really a dual challenge. One is the legal issue of citizenship but also the capacity. The earlier mentioned local administrator who is getting 3 thousand cases per month, detail cases to process. This is what UNHCR faces. Legal issues and capacity building.

They also work very much on shelter. Trying to renovate the existing buildings, that were theirs, to provide minimum basic living standards to families that are in the greatest need. (This is an interior of one on the apartments). Likewise, UNHCR had basic support to help people to get their fee for income generation, for support in health and education.

I would like to move now to UNDP - the other part of the tandem, that I mentioned of the development agencies. It focuses on human development for conflict prevention but is so doing try to include the community and the citizens into adoption of decisions that affect them.

The programme began in 1995 in two rayon’s Sudak and Simferopol. In second phase it moved to Belogorsk and Bakhchisaray. There were five integrated pieces like five fingers of a hand. And all of them were essential in the work that was done in conflict prevention. The first – reducing socio-economic disparities. It involves some very simple elements of micro finance. UNDP resources and knowledge were proposed to people. We worked very closely with the IOM and also with Canada international support that they were providing to Credit Unions.

In addition to that there were a lot of hard physical assets. Again I mention water, water systems, support to social services, for health and education. This was component of the programme that is tentative. You can reach out or touch the water system, you can feel the micro credit system. This was the hardware of the programme.

Of equal importance was the software - the attitude, the behaviour that ultimately is behind the conflict prevention. The first racing of this was tolerance and the CIDP programme is focused very heavily on youth (as you can see from these pictures). So, attitudes and behaviour are developed at very young age. I think the Community Canters that I visited and watching kids learn together on a computer was very powerful thing. It does not matter where they are from, what language kids speak. They are learning together. They are dancing together on Saturday nights. Ultimately this is the environment for cultural peace.

Good Governance. Here the term is used regularly. But it really has meaning in Crimea. It is basically involving citizens in decisions adoption that affect them. Rather than administrators are taking a decision, the citizens are acting. This is 1:1 system. Whom do you want to be a manager? What is the price? It has been highlighted by our evaluation team as one of real installed successes of CIDP, this element of local governance. In fact, the World Bank is designing the Social Investment Fund. On the Good Governance side it is not just people at local level. As mentioned by an earlier speaker there has been established CCF that brings together the local government, all of donor partners, the NGOs, Medjlis and this has been the direction for CIDP.

Targeting the vulnerable is also an important component with very heavy focus on women and children but also the elderly. One common view when we hear the opinion from the beneficiaries is that it does not matter the size of input that they are getting. Sometimes something very small gives them a feeling of hope during this difficult transition period.

Building capacity is the final element of those five components I was talking about. What we find in the situation of different ethnic groups that sometimes the blue flag can serve as a convene to bring people together around a table. There ha been some very heated discussions, there have been some points that did not agree with. But at least people were coming around the table on a peaceful basis. We consider this an important part of capacity building. We try to include all of the partners feeling that everyone ha something to offer. (This is the photography from the TPR that took place just in June this year.)

The final point I want to raise here is that the combination of these different elements creates assets that aim ultimately at prevention of conflict and work towards the integration of different ethnic and religious groups.

If we look to how the future now, what is the future looks like within the context of UN family. What I can say quite clearly that we hope to continue and deepen the work of UNDP and UNHCR. We hope to bring UNFPA and UNICEF into this work because they have tremendous expertise and knowledge to add in respective domains.

UNICEF with its very strong focus on children and adolescent, focusing on preventing harm and bad things that happen in health. But also focusing on the positive trying to stimulate positive attitudes and behaviours for the future of these young people.

The same for UNFPA with the focus on reproductive health which ultimately leads to a drop in abortion rates, the focus on HIV, the focus on STD’s, all are important parts of their work.

UNHCR continue to focus on the issues of citizenship and providing immediate needs, immediate support to those that in need with the primary focus on shelter.

UNDP has worked in these first four provinces and plans to expand to three more and it plans also to integrate a programme of Early Warning, which is ultimately important for decision-makers and communities to be able to know before the problem happens that something is brewing there. This will be the feature of the next Programme as well as the evaluation of lessons that has been learned. So other programmes and decision-makers can benefit from the lessons that have been learned in CIDP.

In conclusion I would like to say that UN family will work together as a coherent unit. One of the reasons why we are trying to do that is that we have common geographic area. We need to have respective mending but bringing those together in the concentrated zone, where you have high concentration of FDP, we think this is the best way to work.

We also believe that integration of all partners is critical, all international partners, either NGOs, one level or multilevel, all government levels, national and local, and all of the people assembled here, the Media. This is really team effort. The UN system believes those are core problems – issues of human dignity, human rights, conflict prevention, and maintenance o peace and stability, poverty reduction. These elements are in the core of the UN system.

As we have heard from our friend Mr. Ismailov he is encouraging us to look to the future, to look not only at his grandchildren but at his grand children.

We thank all of the donors, all of the many, many donors who have given extraordinary support to this Program. We also want to acknowledge all the people in this room because in one function or another you have been involved and we are very pleased that many people who have been implementing this Program in Crimea have traveled here. And I think they have some interesting facts to share with us.

However, we need continuing support. We need support both on the moral basis and on financial and technical basis. We hope to continue to do our best to warrant the trust and the confidence that you have placed on us.

Thank you very much.

Addresses and Statements by Donors

Derek Fraser
H. E. Ambassador of Canada

Вельмишановний пане віце-прем’єр-міністр!

We are delighted to take part in this donors’ meeting as well as in the planning of the next steps of CIDP. We appreciate the team approach that has been adopted by the UN, the Governments of Ukraine and Crimean, the donors’ community, and the local communities.

We think this group is especially effective. Furthermore, the programme is capable thanks to the life of any donors’ founded local programme. Local capacity has been given respective use. What this means is that stronger mechanism of exchange and cooperation which allow for the full participation of all involved players must be implemented.

One other thing that also needs attention is greater local responsibility for the results of the programme. And in this connection we are pleased that the Government of Ukraine has agreed in principle to make a financial contribution to the programme.

The advantages of the community based participatory approach that has been used in the first two Phases are quite revenues. We appreciate particularly active involvement of local communities from the four original regions, who are sharing really acquired expertise with three new rayons. This allows the lessons that had been learned to be applied and initiatives to be modified on low level.

We are in this connection particularly breathed with the way in which the recommendations of Tripartite Review Meeting, held in June, are being carried out. They provide for other base of cooperation, straight relationships with all donors and governments and coordination with organisations as well as lower and increased monitoring or evaluation activities.

The focus of Canadian intervention will continue to be on the prevention, capacity building (or strengthening of the human infrastructure) and support for small and medium enterprises.

In this connection the maintenance of peace and stability in Crimean region remains the greatest priority for us. Improving living conditions for the various groups continues to be important. In addition, managing ethnic diversity and respect of minority rights are issues important for Canada.

For this reason we have founded two additional study tours in Canada for Crimean leaders to see how Europeans are going to manage similar issues. We know, one of these groups is in Canada right now.

Since 1996 Canada has contributed some 728.000 $US or 1.1 million $Canada, which amounts to the 18% of the total budget of the CIDP. We have specifically contributed to multiethnic support, planning, local business capacity and especially for women business.

Today it is Canada’s intention to undertake the projects with UNDP for up to 1 million $Canada or 650.000 $US. This amount represents almost three times the amount we put forward. We hope this amount will assure a sequent transition of the programme and will complement other needs that Canada will be contributing to Crimea through the Canadian Fund at Canadian Embassy, Policy Advisor for Reforms as well as Agency...

This indication of Canadian influences in continued involvement in the programme is the indication of Canadian continuing support for assisting integration of Crimean FDP in the mainstream of the Ukrainian society.

Onno Hattinga van’t Sant
H. E. Ambassador of Netherlands

Thank you very much!

We appreciate the work of CIDP and all the efforts made by the Ukrainian Government, UNDP and agencies. The programme expands its protection to more people. My government has contributed much to serve the programme and is going to make allocations for next years. Well, the amount is not decided yet.

Thank you!

Y. Bystrytsky
Executive Director
International Renaissance Foundation

Thank You for giving me the floor!

I would like to say that the Foundation consistently supports the program of Crimean Tatars and other FDP integration into Ukrainian society. In coming three years We plan to grant about 650 thousand USD for this program.

I would like to add some important explanations as to the Foundation position.

First, I would like to thank the Government of Ukraine represented by Vice Prime Minister M. Zhulynsky and Mr. D. Gardner (UNDP) for this Conference.

Secondly, I would like to say that the Government of Ukraine showed interest in co-operation and permits the Foundation to work out common projects.

I would like to add that from the Foundation point of view it is very important to support the programs aimed at attraction of Crimean Tatars and other FDP to active participation in implementation of programs of their integration into Ukrainian society. We would like to provide support to the programs and initiatives worked out by NGO and repatriates themselves. This is the question of principle for the Foundation. The Foundation also supports the programs that got approval of independent experts.

We shall provide assistance in following spheres:

• education (from pre-school to secondary school, and perhaps, higher education for FDP);
• cultural programs;
• development of NGO and insurance of civil rights.

And finally. This program is now being transformed into independent NGO. We hope that this Organization could collect about 2.5 mln USD for implementation of the Program.

Thank You!

Jean-Francois Kammer
H. E. Ambassador of Switzerland

Thank you Vice Prime Minister!

From the beginning Switzerland praised high the role of CIDP. My country showed its interest in this project and gave assistance, especially technical assistance. From 1996 Swiss contribution made up 1 million $US and we gave additional 600.000 $US in 1998.We focus during these Phases I and II on providing support for basic needs as water supply and healthcare.

As for funds for Phase II, they have not been fully used yet. Priority for us will be to provide backstroking support of the programme until the 31 of December next year. This requests lots, which allow us also to identify for further Swiss cooperation and appropriate projects.

Thank you very much.

Alp Karaosmanoglu
H. E. Ambassador of Turkey

Mr. Chairman,

As head of the Turkish delegation to the International Donors' Meeting on Humanitarian and Development Dimensions of Population Integration in Crimea, I would like to express first of all our appreciation to the Ukrainian government, UN agencies and the OSCE for having taken the initiative of convening this third meeting of its kind.

Mr. Chairman,

Today, the Crimean Tatars constitute 95% of the returnee population. The Turkish people who have ethnic, cultural and historic ties with the Crimean Tatars view their return to their homeland with sympathy and as the necessary correction of a cruel injustice. Moreover, we believe that as loyal citizens of Ukraine the Crimean Tatars constitute an important factor in the strengthening of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and that further improvements in their legal status as well as social and economic conditions will enable them to better contribute in that direction.

We welcome the increasing awareness of the international community as to the plight of the Crimean Tatars and other returnees. The OSCE, UNDP, UNHCR and IOM in particular have taken the lead for the stabilization of the situation on the peninsula through concrete integration proposals and programmes. This third Donors' Meeting is a striking example of the effort shown by the international community in this regard. Such international effort is gratifying because only together can we help Ukraine bring solutions to the deplorable situation in which the returnees find themselves today.

Indeed, "deplorable" is the word when one takes a closer look at the living conditions of the Crimean Tatar returnees half of whom have no homes of their own but live with relatives, in overcrowded hostels often with no heating or in basements unsuitable for living. More than twenty thousand families are in the sorry state of having started the construction of their homes but unable to complete them because they lost all their savings in the hyperinflation of the early years of independence. A staggering 42% of these people who are gathered in around 300 settlements lack what we all take for granted in our everyday lives: electricity. Only 19% of Crimean Tatars have water in, their homes.

Moreover, a large majority of Crimean Tatars do not dare hope that their living standards will improve in the short term, simply because 60% of the 140.000 able-bodied returnees are unemployed. These adversities have certainly contributed to the fact that the rate of chronic diseases among them is three times higher than among the rest of the Crimean population.

Another issue that weighs heavily on the Crimean Tatars is that of land distribution. While land is being given to those who work in collective farms, the Crimean Tatar returnees are for the most part excluded from this process for the simple reason that they are not employed in collective farms. Reportedly, only 4.5% of the lands being privatised in Crimea have been allotted to the Crimean Tatars who constitute 12% of the Autonomous Republic's population. Land ownership is an important issue for the Crimean Tatars because there is an urgent need to create jobs for the unemployed and also because of the fact that the vast majority of the deportees of 1944 were collective farm workers.

One question remains to be asked above all: Can any of these complex problems receive sufficient attention so long as Crimean Tatars continue to lack representation at the executive and parliamentary levels of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea? Indeed, the current electoral system does not allow for the Crimean Tatar people to be adequately represented in particular in the Crimean. Parliament where under the ethnic quota system of 1994-1998 they had played a stabilizing role, the attention which is being paid by the President of Ukraine to this important aspect of reintegration is much appreciated by the Crimean Tatar people. Having a say in the Crimean Parliament and in their own day-to-day governance will certainly facilitate and accelerate the resolution of their problems of resettlement and re-integration.

It is precisely with the aim of meeting certain urgent needs of re-integration of the returnees that Turkey is bringing its own contribution to support Ukraine's efforts. Considering the Crimean Tatars as a further bridge of friendship and cooperation between the Turkish and Ukrainian peoples, the Turkish government started its own programme for the resettlement and reintegration of Crimean Tatars in the land of their ancestors as early as 1992. Our efforts to this end have continued unabatedly ever since, Humanitarian assistance in the form of food, medicine and clothes has been provided on many occasions. A hospital has been built. Mosques have been constructed and repaired and clergymen dispatched to Crimea. A printing press has been provided and as a more long-term investment, around 500 Crimean. Tatar students have been granted scholarships in Turkish universities and schools. Technical training has been provided in various fields.

Turkey has also focused on one of the most urgent needs of the Crimean Tatars: that of housing. The Turkish International Cooperation Agency which implements Turkey's multi-sectored assistance programmes particularly in the newly independent states set up office in Simferopol and started the "1000-House project" three years ago, Under this project houses are being purchased and distributed among the needy Tatar families. Also, funds are being provided for completing the construction of unfinished homes. As of today, 224 houses and apartment blocks have been purchased and 55 houses completed bringing the total to 279 at a cost of around 1.350.000 US Dollars. When completed the total cost of the project is expected to reach 5 million US Dollars. Given the seriousness of the returnees' housing and infrastructure problems, we urge the Ukrainian government to persist in its application for membership in the Council of Europe Development Bank so as to secure advantageous long-term loans.

As a contribution to multilateral efforts Turkey also pledged 1 million US dollars at the Second Donors' Meeting held in June 1998. The channelling of this assistance is being realized through the Cost-sharing Agreement signed between TICA and UKDP, This sum will be used for the realization of water supply projects in two Crimean Tatar settlements in the Simferopol region. Turkey has already deposited 250.000 US Dollars to the UNDP contribution account. The construction work on the site will start after consideration of the updated technical project documents.

And today, Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to announce a further contribution of 1 million US Dollars by the Government of the Republic of Turkey for the period 2001-2004. TICA will be tasked with the use of this money in new integration and development projects in Crimea in full coordination with UN agencies and relevant Ukrainian bodies.

Mr. Chairman,

Our presence at this Third Donors' Meeting attests to the international community's concern as to the plight of the formerly deported peoples and their descendants returning to Crimea. It also shows that the world community appreciates and supports the efforts made by Ukraine for facilitating their return and re-integration. We can be proud of this solidarity which we believe is a most effective means of strengthening peace, stability and welfare in this important region.

Thank you for your attention.

Ulf Sor
Counsellour of the Embassy of Sweden

Шановний пане віце-прем’єр-міністр!
Шановні друзі!
Dear friends!

It is great respect to be commented as experienced Swedish diplomat.

Sweden showed great interest to the questions regarding minorities returning to Crimea. Sweden on regular basis contributed to UNDP, UNHCR, and IOM for their programs and also specifically to CIDP.

As for now discussed program I can assure you that we are aware of need of financial support for the new Phase. And the request to my government is under the process. Consequently, I cannot today say or not say commitment on Swedish side.

Thank you!

Josef Zahorjan
Deputy Resident Representative

Thank you, Mr. Vice Prime Minister!

First of all, as Deputy ResRep I express our gratitude for all the words which are so encouraging. I would like to share with you that whole UNDP team is looking forward to the work with Programme assistance to FDP.

Secondly, I would like to use the opportunity to share with you that donors’ contribution such as Canada’s one and others is subsequent assumption of CIDP.

Thirdly, I would like to share with you also the role of UNDP as a co-ordinator of donors’ assistance. But as you aware UNDP is one of the main sources of CIDP. Now it is my pleasure to share with you contribute from 500.000 to 1 million $US for new Phase of the Program.

Thank you very much.

Tomas Lenk
First Secretary of the Embassy
the Federal Republic of Germany

Dear Vice Prime Minister!
Dear participants of the Conference!

Germany has contributed much to the Programme: to UNDP, to UNHCR, supporting the basic needs of FDP. Germany is considering a new contribution. Unfortunately I can’t make concrete pledge. It is connected with budgetary process. But we seriously consider support for next year, in which way it has to be discussed. Our contribution will be earmarked for crises prevention.

Thank you!

Conclusion

Fevzi Yakubov
Rector Crimean State Industrial and
Pedagogical Institute

All nations have two eternal features: these are dignity and kindness. I thank all those who are helping us.

Our Institute reflects the processes of formation and development that are taking place in Crimea. The experience of our work and it is more then 5 years, shows successful coexistence of various cultures. Material, legal and mentality disballance may always create conflicts. While material and legislative disbalances can be abolished by State acts, disbalances in mentality require many years for their elimination. It is a long way, but it is a sure way.

On the basis of our experience in coexistence of various cultures we create the Centre of Polyethnic Culture. This Centre must insure equilibrium between cultures of various peoples and mutual understanding.

The key person in the process of education is the teacher. Teacher is the bearer not only of knowledge but that of the morality and ethics

That is why we ask international organizations assistance in creation of this Centre. Such Centre will become a demonstration of humanism. You heard the history of Mr. Ismail told by Mr. Gardner and you could see that this 110 years old man preserved kindness despite all the disasters in his life.

And we have to retain good traditions, customs and good will that are characteristic to all peoples.

Thank You.

Y. Buznitsky
International Renaissance Foundation

I greet all who are present here.

Since the representatives of the donor countries are present in this hall, I would like your attention to only one problem.

The experience of the International Renaissance Foundation (it is a non government foundation financed by charity grants) shows that we use the position of the donor countries or their vision of the ways in which their donations must be used as guiding instructions in implementation of various projects. It is quite natural and understandable that the leading role in this process belongs to UNDP that is at the same time the coordinator of all programs and projects. However I would like to stress that we have one more still unused reserve of attracting donations. These are material and financial means that may be provided by foundations, institutions and international organizations situated in respective countries.

During the last few years we are working in this direction with non governmental organizations in developed countries. Therefore I would ask all those present to keep this in mind when informing their governments and public about this conference. I am sure and I know that such foundations, such institutions exist. Our foundation has rather considerable experience of work with non governmental and charity means. We have an appropriate structure in Crimea. It is capable to implement rather big financial projects.

That is why I ask you to pay attention to my proposal. We are always ready to respond to such initiatives, to continue our work and in this way to develop a new parallel sphere increasing existing fund.

Thank You for your attention.

Conclusions

V. Elchenko
Deputy Minister of foreign affairs

Thank You very much for giving me the floor.

First I want to tell that we remember the First Conference held in Geneva. At that time few people believed that this problem will get so much attention we see today. We are very grateful for all the contributions made by your countries since the Firs Conference.

I wish first of all to thank Mr. Gardner who did very much for the success of the Conference. I also thank all those who prepared this Conference. I also thank Mr. Zhulinsky for his personal attention to the preparation and participation in the Conference.

Thank You.

R.A.Chubarov
Deputy Head of Verkhovna Rada Committee on Human Rights,
National Minorities and Interethnic Relations,
Vice Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars People

On the 10th 0f November at the meeting of Council of the representatives of the Crimean Tatar People the Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People addressing to the President of Ukraine said that for the last few years many had changed. There were the times when thousand Crimean Tatars were gathering at the walls of Kremlin demanding the right to return to their Motherland. Now the President himself comes to Bakhchisaray and gathers us.

The III Donor Conference demonstrates that the Crimean Tatars’ tragedy and their difficult situation, their problems worries not only Ukraine but international community as well. And we are very grateful for your participation in the Conference and for your assistance. I want once more thank you for previous donations which had been used.

And the most important thing is that I confirm the words of Mr. Gardner. Crimean Tatars will try to become worthy citizens of Ukraine as soon as possible.

Concluding speech of Mr. N Zhulinsky
Chairman of the Conference

I take this occasion to stress once more that the Government of Ukraine is entirely content with its co-operation with United Nations Development Program and the results of the second stage of CIDP. Assistance to FDP remains for the Government a subject of priority as it is stated in the Government Program “Reforms for the welfare”. The Government considered the draft project of CIDP for its next stage for 2001-2004. This program coincides with priorities and directions of the Government’s activity since it was elaborated in close cooperation with the Government. Strategic directions of the CIDP for the next stage are development of infrastructure, support of small and medium size business, creation of the system of conflict potential monitoring and they constitute the most important components of successful integration of FDP. The Government of Ukraine despite the shortage of budget resources will work with UNDP according the principle of mutual financing. Certain pert of the State budget will be allotted for implementation of mutual projects with UNDP. Strategic directions of these programs will be determined by the Government. We hope that that the new stage of CIDP will start on the 1-st of January 2001, and co-operation of the Government with UNDP on the working level will be even closer and Representation of the UN in Ukraine will have corresponding authority for operative realization of common decisions.