“The Russian war began precisely in Crimea and Donbas, and it should have ended there. The liberation of Crimea will help not only the security of Ukraine, but also the whole world. This aggression undermines confidence in international institutions and international law”, — Mark Demesmaeker, Chair of the Committee on Transversal Affairs of the Senate of the Belgian Federal Parliament

Mark Demesmaeker, Chair of the Committee on Transversal Affairs of the Senate of the Belgian Federal Parliament, during a plenary session of the Second Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform recalled several personal memories of his trip to Crimea. “If you haven’t been to Crimea, you can’t understand how wonderful this place is.” After returning home, he described this beauty to his family and friends, telling them that it was just a treasure of the Black Sea. There is beautiful nature, a great cultural heritage and the most diverse population. However, after 2014, everything changed, instead of a treasure there was just a crater without hope.

“The Russian war began precisely in Crimea and Donbas, and it should have ended there. The liberation of Crimea will help not only the security of Ukraine, but also the whole world. This aggression undermines confidence in international institutions and international law.” After all, no one wants to leave such a world to the future generation. Mr. Demesmaeker noted: “In this situation, there is no golden middle path, all occupants must leave the territory of Ukraine, and we cannot create a frozen conflict from this. If we do not bring to justice those who committed war crimes, then we face defeat.” While in Bucha, he saw what horror was happening there, it was a confrontation with absolute evil. He met with those who had lived through this hell, and these people were still in shock, but they wanted to make sure to find those who did it and bring them to justice. Mark Demesmacher is glad that the final text of the declaration included the commitment to support the work of the International Criminal Court and establishment of the international tribunal for the crime of aggression. “Our future depends on this and whether the treasure of the Black Sea, Crimea, will continue to shine as before.”