Marian Tkaczuk
Having been a member of CYOA for some 16 years I have been instrumental in initiating and developing plans for activating and involving the youth sector through the introduction of the National Youth Council Portfolio (KRYMA) and have been involved in the area of Public & International affairs. I have attended World Anti Communist Conferences as a delegate representing Ukraine in Japan 1970, the Philippines 1971 and Mexico 1972 during which I was elected Chairman of the World Anti Communist Youth League. Similarly I attended conferences in Germany and Switzerland (Amnesty International) as well as gave a presentation at the Ukrainian University in Rome regarding the Australian initiatives in defence of Yurij Shukhevych. I have held several portfolios within CYOA as Vice Chair and Director of Public affairs and Youth affairs. I have a great family including 9 Grandchildren and they keep me on my toes.
Vision
For some time I have been very concerned with the trend of instability which has plagued our Ukrainian Nation. You all are aware of the destructive political infighting, the contest among oligarchs, politicians and others for ripping off the Ukrainian nation and the open as well as surreptitious intervention by Russia and some other countries who have done everything possible to weaken and subvert our Independent state. (not so different a scenario to that experienced following the Ukrainian Jan 22nd 1918 declaration of independence.) The time for all of us to act is NOW.
Thus I believe our aims in CYOA should be to ensure that we rethink our strategy on political awareness especially amongst our youth and work with all our member organisations to ensure that we in Australia have the framework ready for proactive action and timely reaction to the attacks on Ukraine’s Sovereign integrity from whatever quarter they may emanate. We are already seeing the strong pro Moscow steps taken by our newly elected Government of Ukraine, which include attacks on Ukrainian Language, infringe on the Constitution through violation of human rights, the denying of the genocide of the Ukrainian people through the Stalin / Moscow enforced Holodomor and many other examples.
We need to work closely on a National basis in the area of External affairs and adopt a team approach to all aspects of this important issue.
Marian Tkaczuk
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