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The Speaker Andreas Norlén participated in the Bucha Summit in Ukraine on 31 March, a parliamentary conference of Speakers from 17 European countries. The meeting was held in connection with the three-year anniversary of the liberation of the city of Bucha from Russian occupation and to honour the hundreds of civilian victims of Russia’s aggression.
“It is gratifying to see such great attendance at the conference; it demonstrates a continued great and common will to support Ukraine. The international community has neither forgotten nor forgiven these terrible crimes. Lasting peace and security require accountability”, says the Speaker Andreas Norlén.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada – the Parliament of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, hosted the conference, in which the Speaker of the British House of Commons Sir Lindsey Hoyle, the Vice-President of the European Parliament Martin Hojsík, the President of the Senate of Spain and all the Speakers from the Nordic and Baltic countries participated (Lithuania was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the Seimas). Relatives of people who were murdered by Russian soldiers also participated in the meeting and talked about their experiences.
the day, the Speakers, together with President Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska, honoured the victims of the Bucha tragedy at a memorial ceremony with the lighting of candles. President Zelensky also hosted a special meeting with parliamentarians later the same day in Kyiv.
The Speaker Andreas Norlén was appointed by President Zelensky during the day to receive the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 2nd class, as recognition of the Riksdag's close cooperation with and support to the Parliament of Ukraine.
Mr Speaker,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
When the brave Ukrainian forces fiercely stopped the invader from advancing, they exposed a heinous truth here in Bucha. Russian soldiers had burned homes and tortured, raped, and murdered hundreds of innocent civilians.
In hindsight we know that what happened in Bucha was not an isolated incident; other war crimes and crimes against humanity have followed. But Bucha still remains a symbol for some of the most despicable horrors.
Russia has never dealt with or liberated itself from its long, dark history of brutality and imperialism. Its leadership is now seeking to realise imperial dreams at all costs, a goal it has pursued for many years. Instead of a reckoning with the past, we are faced with new chapters in Russia’s history of abuse and terror.
Sweden is fully committed to holding Russia to account for its illegal and barbaric actions in Ukraine. Impunity is not an option – those responsible must face justice. Lasting peace and security require accountability, including for the crime of aggression.
The support for Ukraine in the Swedish Parliament is as strong and as solid now as it has ever been. We are accelerating our military and other support and hope that all European countries to will do the same. With a value of almost 1,6 billion dollars, the largest military support package to Ukraine to date has just been presented for capabilities linked to air defense, artillery, and naval capabilities. We must all contribute as long as needed, and to the extent required. Ukraine has shown that it wants peace, and the pressure must now be on Russia.
We live in difficult and uncertain times, but we must not lose faith. Europe’s history teaches us that democracy is ultimately stronger than its enemies.
In conclusion, I would like to quote the Ukrainian poet Kateryna Babkina, and her poem “Eternal memories”. It provides solace and reflection when someone has sacrificed their life in a righteous struggle.
So when – expected or not – the moment has come
in a city where everything has been set on fire
in a country that demands too much of you
recite in your mind the names of all those you love
those who in love shall walk in your footsteps
and close not your eyes.
Eternal memories: thin rays flowing through all time,
fragile sounds in the air, light-blue voices,
glittering gold in the eyes of others.
So when you are close to death, sing silently to yourself:
life gives way to life again like the sea in the rain
and for that reason it never ceases.
Slava Ukraini.
