Dublin, 12 February 2015

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear Ukrainian compatriots,

It is a particular pleasure for me to welcome you today at the opening ceremony of the photograph Exhibition “Ukraine: Inspiring Dignity”.

There is no strength without pain. There is no strength without suffering.

That’s a path many nations passed. Now it’s time for Ukraine to wake up and pave its way through historic challenges to freedom and national dignity.

Freedom is a priceless gift always worth fighting for.

And that was the idea which lead thousand hundred Ukrainians to Maidan a year ago.

Maidan became both a turning point and the most tragic event in the history of independent Ukraine. 103 people were shot dead and more than one thousand injured on the streets of Kyiv during the Revolution of Dignity.

But nevertheless during that time we all witnessed a phenomenon, which previously we could not even imagine: an unprecedented growth of national consciousness, self-respect and dignity of the Ukrainian people.

People came to Maidan for different reasons. Nationalists and liberals, football hooligans and gray-haired intellectuals who took an active part in the revolutionary events saw different models of development of Ukraine.

However, they all fought for the rule of law, fair courts and police, decent standards of living, real fight against corruption and European future for their nation.

The renewal of Ukraine’s path towards European integration and the signing and ratification of the EU Association Agreement became positive consequences of Maidan.

As I mentioned in my presentation at the Conference currently 14 EU countries, Ireland among them, had ratified the Association Agreement with Ukraine.

We take this as yet another proof of real support to Ukraine’s European aspirations and solidarity with the Ukrainian people in these difficult times.

Dear friends,

As Benjamin Franklin said, those who “... can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Fighting for dignity and European values was the main driving force of Maidan.

And this strength of ordinary people who proved that freedom is stronger than fear which you can see in the eyes of those pictured at the photos presented here.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Dublin City University, to the members of the “Ukraine Connection Society” and all Ukrainians who contributed to this exhibition. My special thanks go to

My Lithuanian collegue H.E.Ambassador Rasa Adomaitiene and all our Lithuanian friends who made this event possible.

This is a real support and a gesture of solidarity with Ukrainians who now, as a year ago, continue to fight for their right to live in and be a part of a civilized, democratic and free Europe.

I am confident that along with the efforts by the states and governments, the support of ordinary people is very important.

We in Ukraine feel this support which is growing every day.

We do believe that because of that one day we will have a peace in our home and our children will feel no threat to their lives.

Thank you.

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