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Welcome Address by Kateryna Yushchenko, Plenary Session of the International Humanitarian Forum "Rebirth, Renewal and Human Development"

Dear friends,

We are opening an international humanitarian forum called Rebirth, Renewal and Human Development.

First and foremost, let me thank the representatives of many countries that have welcomed our initiative to consider some complex development issues, express their attitude to them and work out a joint action plan for the future.

We have gathered here on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. This date has become a point of reference that has led the world community to the understanding that such disasters are not a problem of individual nations and countries. Global catastrophes of the likes of Chornobyl are those of the entire mankind as a whole.

We are aware that the Chornobyl disaster has many aspects. This humanitarian forum is centered on human rebirth and renewal. Our painful experience makes it imperative that we focus on the fundamental question –development of the individual and society and the strengthening of our responsibility for the future.

We intend both to honor the memory of the Chornobyl events and start a continuous dialog about our common future in the conditions of growing man-caused disaster threat. To that end, we have invited a number of well-known people who are shaping the future of their countries today to share their vision of tomorrow. These are philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, environmentalists, physicians, economists, and artists, and the common denominator for our discussions will be man’s safety and development.  

In launching a dialog on post-disaster development, we have dared to pose some questions that are far from easy to answer: What lessons have we learned? What lessons have gone unnoticed? What do natural and manmade disasters have to tell us? What should we understand and where do we go from here?

The main lessons we have already learned.

The first lesson learned is that you should speak the truth. Let us make it the cornerstone of our dialog.

The second lesson is that we should discard an egoistic approach to meeting current needs and learn to make strategic decisions based on the interests of people, especially the generations to come.

The third lesson is to admit it is impossible to solve global issues through the efforts of one nation or country. This gives us the understanding that we must unite not only in the times of natural calamities, manmade disasters or terrorist attacks but also to find ways of developing in harmony with Nature and the eternal laws of being.

We are beginning to realize that our world and all things in it are integrated and interconnected. Disasters indicate that the balance of development has been disturbed and that we must learn jointly to maintain it at all times.

We are facing the need to make some decisive, strategic steps. To substantiate them, a dialog of scientists, experts and politicians is in order.   

It is just the kind of dialog – about rebirth, renewal and human development – that we are starting today. We are looking forward to having your ideas, views and proposals to help us feel tonight that we are not alone in this world; we will have a helping hand in an emergency; we are ready to respond to another’s suffering, and we have the strength and stamina to withstand adversity.

Dear Friends!

The mascot of this forum is a leleka gently embracing the globe. Every spring, lelekas come flying to this country to raise their offspring. They make their nests near good people’s homes, where they can feel loving care and security. For Ukrainians, it is a great pride and joy to have a leleka’s nest near their homes.

This year too they have come to Ukraine. So will they the next year. We hope that they will always come to your countries as well.

Thank you.