Summary:
The third congress of the World Federation of Ukrainian Lemko Organizations took place in Kyiv, Ukraine (May 25-26). It was accompanied by many cultural events. While the situation of Lemkos (that is, Rusyns in Poland, Slovakia, Transcarpathian Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Croatia, and North America) was discussed in detail, Operation “Vistula” was one of the major topics discussed during both plenary and scholarly sessions. The President of Poland’s condemnation of Operation “Vistula” was noted with satisfaction, but it was also underlined that a lot more has to be done.

The Congress stressed the necessity of the involvement of the highest Ukrainian governmental circles in Lemko matters. It was proposed that a special Lemko Committee attached to the Ukrainian government should be created. It would be responsible for the “solution” of Lemko issues in cooperation with the Polish government, like the return of Lemko property in Poland, and giving those Lemkos who were resettled the status of deported people. Also see the press release of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dated April 9, 2002, and Р. Л. Хомяк, “Минуле все ще не дає забути про себе” (Svoboda, 24 April 2002).

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