Ukraine has announced the launch of the Crimean Platform initiative, which aims to develop practical approaches for the return to its composition of the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.
The Crimean platform will be launched with the inaugural summit in Kyiv on August 23, at which a declaration will be adopted "with a vision of further consolidation of Crimean politics", the Embassy of Ukraine in Serbia reported.
"The Crimean Platform is an initiative of Ukraine to unify international efforts for the de-occupation of Crimea, which has been temporarily occupied by the aggressor state, Russia, since February 2014, grossly violating international law," the statement said.
Russia, as stated, "will also be invited to participate in the platform for starting a dialogue on the de-occupation of Crimea."
The initiative received the support of several countries, including the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Georgia, Turkey, the announcement reads.
The goals of the Crimean Platform are "strengthening the policy of non-recognition of attempts to annex Crimea", "proper implementation and strengthening" of sanctions against Russia, strengthening regional security, "given the impact of the militarization of Crimea on security in Eastern Europe, the wider Black Sea region and the Mediterranean Sea, including freedom of navigation ".
Among the goals are "suppression of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law" and "alleviation of the negative economic and environmental impact of the occupation of Crimea on the region."
The Crimean platform will work at the interstate, parliamentary and expert level, and the activities of the platform will be coordinated by a committee with representatives of the diplomatic missions of member states and organizations in Kyiv, the statement added.
Bonus video:
