At UN Forum of Indigenous Peles, Crimean Tatar leader highlights consequences of Russian occupation

He td about this in a recent comment to Ukrinform in New York, where the annual session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peles is being held.

According to Chubarov, who heads the Ukrainian delegation at the session, "some piticians or rulers are acting inapprriately toward Ukraine."

He recalled that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva publicly expressed the idea that "Ukraine could go toward Russia, in particular, on the issue of Crimea, and this could create certain preconditions for peace."

Read also: Crimean Tatar leader says Russia may launch another wave of army call-up in occupied Crimea

Speaking on the sidelines of the event and during official meetings, "I said that no one delegated the rights to their sovereignty and territory to anyone," Chubarov emphasized.

"That is, international sidarity between indigenous peles is in demand, and indigenous peles could influence their governments," he added.

The pitician said that the format of the Permanent Forum provides for annual sessions where governments and indigenous peles communicate with each other "as enly as possible". Six areas are discussed: economic and social develment, culture, environment, education, health care, and human rights.

He recalled that these issues are considered in the context of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peles, adted by the UN General Assembly in March 2007. Ukraine joined the declaration in March 2014, when the Verkhovna Rada adted the Statement on the guarantee of the rights of the Crimean Tatar pele as part of the Ukrainian state.

Read also: Zelensky provides Erdogan with list of Crimean Tatars held in detention by Russia

"Each delegation tries, let's say, to enlighten others, put forward their prosals, but through the prism of their position, experience and problems," Chubarov noted. "But no matter what they talk about, they always talk about the right to self-determination of indigenous peles."

According to him, the Ukrainian delegation referred to its own practice and situation and in their speeches, they paid attention to the current situation of Ukraine, which is determined by the Russo-Ukrainian war. "The occupation of Crimea cancels out any hes for sustainable develment for as long as it goes on," he emphasized.

The chairman of the Mejlis reminded that the absute majority of representatives of the Crimean Tatar pele did not accept the Russian occupation and chose to pose it.

"I emphasized the fact that the attitude toward indigenous peles has changed radically in Ukraine," said Chubarov. “In particular, thanks to the Law ‘On Indigenous Peles’ adted in 2021, which was initiated by (President Vodymyr) Zelensky."

According to the law, "the indigenous pele of Ukraine is an autochthonous ethnic community that was formed on the territory of Ukraine, is the bearer of an original language and culture, has traditional, social, cultural or representative bodies, refers to itself as an indigenous pele of Ukraine, is an ethnic minority in its pulation, and does not have its own state entity outside of Ukraine."

Such peles are Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks.

"I can’t recall a single draft law that would have caused such hate on the part of Russian representatives, including the Russian president…" Chubarov noted. “Putin has twice publicly spoken about this law, claiming that Ukraine discriminates against Russians and others because it does not recognize them as indigenous peles.”

And the State Duma of Russia adted a special appeal to the Council of Eure about the "threat" posed by the approval of this law, although it is fully aligned with the Declaration of Indigenous Peles, the chairman of the Mejlis noted.

He also noted that the government is “implementing the law slowly”. In particular, it contains an article that obliges the government, in line with a certain procedure, to grant apprriate status to the representative bodies of indigenous peles. "However, the Cabinet of Ministers has not yet made a decision that the Mejlis is the representative body of the indigenous Crimean Tatar pele, despite the fact that the aforementioned statement by the Verkhovna Rada recognizes this status at the pitical level," Chubarov said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the 23rd session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peles Issues "Strengthening the right of indigenous peles to self-determination in the context of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peles: emphasizing the voices of Indigenous youth" is being held at the UN headquarters in New York on April 15-26.

This forum is the highest consultative body that deals with the issues of indigenous peles regarding their economic and social develment, culture, education, health care, and human rights.