Poland's new remembrance day contradicts good neighborliness - Ukraine
Warsaw's decision to honour Poles who fell victim to ethnic cleansing by Ukrainian ultra-nationalist groups during WWII through a national holiday is against good neighbourly relations, Ukraine's foreign ministry has said.
On Wednesday, the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish parliament, adopted a bill establishing July 11 as the Day of Remembrance of Poles - victims of genocide committed by OUN-UPA on the Eastern Borderlands of the Second Republic of Poland.
In the document, Polish parliamentarians wrote that in the period between 1939 and 1946, members of the ultra-nationalist Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) committed genocide on the Polish residents of the eastern territories of the Second Republic of Poland in which over 100,000 people lost their lives.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine considers the decision of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland to establish 11 July as a Day of Remembrance for the victims of the so-called 'genocide committed by the OUN and UPA in the eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic' to fly in the face of the spirit of good neighbourly relations between Ukraine and Poland," read the statement issued by the Ukrainian ministry on Thursday.
"Ukraine consistently advocates for a scientific and unbiased study of the complex pages of our shared history. We are convinced that the path to true reconciliation lies through dialogue, mutual respect and joint work by historians, rather than through unilateral political assessments," read the statement.
Ukraine called on Poland to refrain from steps that may escalate tensions between the two countries and undermine achievements of mutual dialogue and cooperation.
"Once again, we remind you that Poles should not look for enemies among Ukrainians, and Ukrainians should not look for enemies among Poles. We have a common enemy – Russia," wrote the ministry, adding that the two friendly countries should resolve issues together for their common strength and security.
For decades, the so-called Volhynia Massacre has cast a shadow over Polish-Ukrainian relations, as the exhumations of victims were only unblocked by Kyiv in January. The Poles view the events as a massive, organised and condemnable crime of genocide, while Ukrainians see the massacre as a result of mutual armed conflicts with each side being equally responsible. (PAP)
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