First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova opened the inaugural forum of the Crimea Platform Expert Network. 180 experts and scholars from 33 countries have already expressed their willingness to join the Network.

The participants of the forum discussed the future cooperation, priorities and tasks of the Expert Network.

“Today's forum is significant. It launches the largest global network of intellectuals in the history of Ukraine, united to find solutions to the problems of the Russian occupation of the Crimean Peninsula,” Emine Dzhaparova stressed.

First Deputy recalled the words of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba that the Expert Network is an important component of the Crimea Platform and will saturate global expert opinion with research on Crimea and the problems caused by Russian occupation.

"On August 23, the Crimea Platform will be officially launched by the Inaugural Summit. We are uniting the efforts of governments, parliaments and civil societies to achieve a common goal – the return of Crimea," the diplomat stated.

Emine Dzhaparova noted the importance of the expert and public sector representatives, along with heads of governments, heads of parliaments and international organizations participating in the Summit.

"The role of the Expert Network in the Crimea Platform is crucial: the Network will provide constant monitoring and thorough analysis of the situation on the occupied Crimean Peninsula and in the Black and Azov Seas, develop substantive ideas and proposals in the Crimea Platform priority working areas, as well as provide guidance in developing national and international policies of de-occupation of Crimea," Emine Dzhaparova noted.

According to First Deputy Minister, active cooperation in the following five priority areas of the Crimea Platform will continue after the Summit:

1. consolidation of the international policy of non-recognition of any change in the status of the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol;

2. monitoring and analysis of the effectiveness of sanctions, developing proposals to strengthen sanctions and preventing ways of circumvention;

3. protection of human rights and international humanitarian law;

4. ensuring security in the Azov-Black Sea region and beyond, protecting freedom of navigation;

5. overcoming the negative environmental and economic consequences of the occupation.

“Our common goal is to return Crimea to a space of stability, prosperity and protection of human rights – to Ukraine and Europe. I am convinced that the key to success is our solidarity and synergy,” Emine Dzhaparova stated.

For reference: The Crimea Platform is a new international consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to increase the effectiveness of the international response to the ongoing occupation of Crimea, increase international pressure on Russia, and achieve the main goal of deoccupying Crimea and returning it to the control of Ukrainian government by peaceful means.

Officially, the Crimea Platform will be launched at the inaugural Summit on August 23, 2021 in Kyiv. More than 30 foreign delegations, led by presidents, prime ministers, heads of parliaments, foreign ministers and leaders of international organizations, have confirmed their participation in the summit. A joint Declaration will be adopted during the Summit, outlining the main parameters of international policy on Crimea.

The Crimea Platform Expert Network brings together representatives of Ukrainian and foreign NGOs, think tanks and human rights activists to investigate a full range of issues caused by the purported annexation and temporary Russian occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

On July 29, Minister Dmytro Kuleba signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Eastern Europe Foundation, which provides for the launch of a separate program to support the Network's activities, including funding research projects, information support for the Crimea Platform, thematic events in Ukraine and abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ukrainian Embassies are actively working to engage foreign experts in the Network.