Address of NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation

Today and tomorrow, the world commemorates the Days of Remembrance and Reconciliation. These are the days of honoring all the victims of the World War Two. Over 60 countries were dragged into the World War Two, battles were unleashed on three continents, 80% of the world's population participated in it. It is extremely difficult to calculate the war losses: according to various estimations, around 55 million people died, 14 million of them were Ukrainians.

Wars never start suddenly, they are always prepared and encouraged...In the 30-ies, having come to power Hitler ignored the Treaty of Versailles, began to build up military powers and announced conscription. He was allowed to so. Austrian Anschluss took place in 1938, - Europe swallowed it. And not only swallowed, establishing the appeasement policy and believing Hitler's assurances that this was "the last territorial claim". During the negotiations in Munich, European politicians, not having invited a representative from Czechoslovakia, gave the aggressor a part of its territory - the Sudetes. Tearing Czechoslovakia apart, "the friends" were hiding behind the wish to save peace...But instead of peace the whole Europe choked with blood.

The history must teach us. Teach us that it is impossible to appease the aggressor. Having created military conflict in Transnistria, Chechnya, he will go further - to Abkhazia, from there - to Georgia, afterwards - to Ukraine. And it depends on the civilized world whether we should wait for the aggressor's next step or neutralize it.

And nowadays, as well as more than seventy years ago, Ukrainians with their unbroken spirit and with arms in their hands are defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state. We have only one way - the way of unification and victory, which we will pass with dignity to the end!