Kyiv, 19 June 2007. A group of Ukrainian celebrities requested a meeting with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Mr. Francis M.O’Donnell to raise their concerns about recent incidents of apparent racism and xenophobia in country carried out by a very small number of extremists.
The meeting took place in the UN House with participation of the International Organization for Migration in Ukraine Head Mr. Jeff Labovitz, the representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Ukraine and the following artists, singers and public figures: SOS! Racism! Secretary General Walid Harfouch; singers Irina Bilik and EL Kravchuk; designer Andre Tan; producer Yuri Nikitin; Karin modele agency President Vlada Litovchenko; famous models Aleksandra Nikolaenko and Inna Tsinbalouk; Comedia Club Ukraine producer Nazar Jitkeivich; restorator Viola Kim and editor Peter Dickinson. The group informed that they are planning to organize a demarche and to submit a petition against xenophobia and racism to the President of Ukraine.
Speaking to the participants, Mr. O’Donnell welcomed everybody in the UN House and stated that he had just had meeting with the members of the diplomatic community including several Ambassadors to discuss concerns and to suggest course of actions to strengthen civil society and a pull to the universal values.
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For further information, please contact UN Communications Officer Ms. Veronika Vashchenko at
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, tel (+38 044) 254 0035.
19.06.07
