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Talman Andreas Norlén deltog den 31 mars i Bucha Summit i Ukraina, en parlamentarisk konferens med talmän från 17 europeiska länder. Mötet hölls med anledning av treårsdagen av staden Buchas befrielse från rysk ockupation och för att hedra minnet av de hundratals civila offren för den ryska aggressionen.
– Det är glädjande att uppslutningen till konferensen var så god, det visar på en fortsatt stor och gemensam vilja att stötta Ukraina. Det internationella samfundet har varken glömt eller förlåtit dessa fruktansvärda brott. Varaktig fred och säkerhet kräver ansvarsutkrävande, säger talman Andreas Norlén
Ukrainas talman Ruslan Stefantjuk var värd för konferensen, där i övrigt bland andra talmannen i det brittiska underhuset Sir Lindsey Hoyle, Europaparlamentets vice talman Martin Hojsík, talmannen i den spanska senaten och samtliga talmän från Norden och Baltikum deltog (Litauen i form av en vice talman). Även anhöriga till personer som mördades av ryska soldater deltog i mötet och berättade om sina upplevelser.
Under dagen hedrade talmännen tillsammans med President Zelenskyj och hans hustru Olena Zelenska offren för tragedin i Bucha vid en minnesceremoni med ljuständning. President Zelenskyj var även värd för ett särskilt möte med parlamentarikerna senare under dagen i Kiev.
Talman Andreas Norlén utnämndes av President Zelenskyj under dagen till kommendör med kraschan (andra klassen) av Furst Jaroslav den vises orden som en erkänsla för riksdagens nära samarbete med och stöd till Ukrainas parlament.
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.
