This year Ukraine marks the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 and holding of all planned events dedicated to this date at the highest level should become a matter of honour. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during the meeting of the organizing committee for the preparation and commemoration of the Holodomor. The attendees of the meeting were Ihor Rainin, Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, historians and experts.

"The issue of national memory is a grave question, and these are not empty words, it's something that should be in the heart. And this day (commemoration) is not just a date, but a time when we honour the memory of the fallen and we make (historical) conclusions", the Head of Government stressed.

The Prime Minister emphasized a wide range of commemorative events is being planned. The said activities encapsulate the intensification of cooperation with the international community on the recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a genocide of the Ukrainian people, large exhibitions and meetings in order to bring the world to the scale of the tragedy, and also in November this year, the international forum dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor is being planned. The forum preparation group, on the proposal of Volodymyr Groysman, will be headed by Vice Prime Minister Vyacheslav Kyrylenko.

Moreover, the Head of Government backed the idea of creating a film dedicated to the Holodomor, and he emphasized the importance of commemorating the Holodomor researchers, most notably James Mace, American research scientist of the Holodomor.

"This year, we need to restore comprehensive (research) work to perpetuate the memory of millions. Unfortunately, the research work was actually stopped in 2010. I was surprised ... At such a pace, in three to five years, we will not restart anything. But nobody has the right to forget and diminish the number of people, and especially the children who died. So, I urge everyone to conduct systematic work," Volodymyr Groysman claimed.

In this context, the Head of Government stressed the completion of the second stage of construction of the National Museum “Holodomor Victims Memorial” in Kyiv is also a matter of honor. The state budget for 2018 envisages allocation of UAH 320 million for construction work. According to him, additional funds can be attracted from international sources. "We are kicking off work in February. We have to deliver this project within 24 months. I will commission Vice Prime Minister Volodymyr Kistion to guide the project (completion)... At present, the objective is to determine the effective use of funds," underscored the Prime Minister.

Background

In November, 2017, the Prime Minister visited the National Museum “Holodomor Victims Memorial” in Kyiv and he confirmed plans to allocate funding for the completion of the construction of the Museum as it is a matter of honor as well as the restoration of historical justice for millions of innocent victims.

According to the plans of architects, the second stage of construction will be "hidden" in the Dnipro slope, which is now being fortified. It will not change the landscape and will preserve the idea of the museum - as candles of memory. The project has been approved by UNESCO.

As the Head of Government stressed, history and truth must unite people.