In middle of February, the Executive Committee of the Crimean Tatar Popular Front applied to the bodies of government of Crimea and Ukraine with proposal to hold meetings of high leadership of Crimea and Ukraine with representatives of Crimean Tatar community for discussion of the questions for legislative restoration of rights of the Crimean Tatar people in independent Ukraine.

24th March 2012 the Executive Committee of the Crimean Tatar People’s Front received answer of the Ministry of Culture. The national questions concern to its jurisdiction jointly with the Ministry of work and social policy of Ukraine.

We give the entire text (translation from Ukrainian)

MINISTRY OF CULTURE OF UKRAINE

01601, Kyiv, Franko Str. 19
Tel.: 235-23-78 fax:. 235-32-57
Е-mаil: infо@mincult.gov.ua

19.03.2012 № 808/67/13-12
On № 37/21 from 13.02.2012

Non-governmental organization «Milli Firka»
95000, Autonomous Republic of Crimea,
Simferopol, Krilova Str., 3/5

According to the letter of the non-governmental organization «Milli Firka» from13.02.2012 № 37/16 the Ministry of culture of Ukraine, considered the proposals of the Crimean Tatar People’s Front (without date) about meetings between its representatives and President of Ukraine, chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, chairmen committees, parliamentary fractions in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Prime-minister of Ukraine and other members of the Government of Ukraine, in this connection, informs as follows.

First of all, we note that the Ministry of culture as a whole supports the position of the Crimean Tatar  People’s Front about expediency of organization and holding of the meetings between Crimean Tatar representatives and bodies of government of Ukraine with aim to discuss the actual questions of integration of Crimean Tatars into Ukrainian society and solution of other problem questions.

Consequently, in case of organization of the appropriate events, the Ministry of culture of Ukraine is ready to take part in them, in part concerning its competence.

Concerning first question of meeting was proposed by the representatives of the Crimean Tatar  People’s  Front — the questions of organization of events directed on development and adoption of the Law of Ukraine «On restoration of rights and rehabilitation of repressed Crimean Tatar people» — we inform that a necessity of adoption of the law on restoration of rights of persons were deported by national sign from present territory of Ukraine is not new.

First legislative initiatives in this area were brought in consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, beginning from 90s. However up to now there is no effective document in Ukraine, which would decide at legislative level the questions of legal place for Crimean Tatars in ethno-political space of the Autonomous Republic in particular, and in Ukraine as a whole. This circumstance essentially complicates an efficiency of further process of integration of Crimean Tatars and representatives of other national minorities into Ukrainian society, who formerly were deported from present territory, in particular, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

At the same time, one should to note that for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine under information on March 2012 there is a draft Law of Ukraine «On restoration of rights of persons were deported by national sign» (registration № 5515 from 24.02.2010), which included in agenda of 10th session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of 6th calling in accordance with resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from 7th February 2012 № 4344-VI.

At the same time, one should to note that a procedure of preparation and bringing of legislative initiatives, including alternative ones, for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was fixed by the Constitution of Ukraine and legislation, in particular, the Law of Ukraine «On regulations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine».

Concerning second question of meeting was proposed by the representatives of the Crimean Tatar  People’s Front — the question of holding of the Extraordinary National Assembly of the Crimean Tatar people 18th May 2012 — we inform that present question doesn’t concern to competence of the Ministry of culture of Ukraine.

In case of including in agenda of the mentioned assembly the questions relating to competence of the Ministry of culture of Ukraine, the Ministry is ready to consider an opportunity to send own representative to Simferopol (Autonomous Republic of Crimea).

First deputy Minister
Yu.P. Bogutskyi

Thus, the Ministry of culture, as one of the subjects of legislative initiative, confirmed not only the fact of lack of legislative regulation of the Crimean Tatar question in Ukraine, but as a whole expressed support to initiatives of the Crimean Tatar  People’s  Front directed on establishment of positive dialogue between government of Ukraine and Crimean Tatar people — with aim to discuss actual questions of integration (not assimilation!) of Crimean Tatars into Ukrainian society and solution of other problem questions.

Milli Firka-Inform