The Russian war of aggression and terror in Ukraine has been raging for two years and dominating the media landscape. Every day, news and images of a cruel, never-ending war make the world aware of this. Although the world has not remained inactive from the outset to support Ukraine as best it can, there is no real end in sight to the death and suffering in this large state in Eastern Europe.
The Saarpfalz district was also keen to help right away - at local level. District Administrator Dr Gallo remembers 24 February 2022 very clearly, when the news of the start of the Russian war of aggression broke: "A video conference was planned for that very morning with the chairman of the district council of our partner district of Lviv, Andrij Sulym, and the Consul General of Ukraine, Vadim Kostiuk, as well as representatives of Polish districts, to discuss the then current threat to Ukraine from Russia. The news shook us all to the core, even though the attack was to be expected after the end of the Winter Olympics."
The Saarpfalz district immediately pledged its support by taking in and caring for refugees. The following day, the district offered support to the Saarland state government in an open letter and launched a joint donation initiative with the German-Polish Society Saar and Spohns Haus. This was followed by numerous aid measures, which the Saarpfalz district carried out itself, sometimes together with local companies, or by advising other institutions or providing organisational support. The Europe Unit, headed by Dr Violetta Frys, European Affairs Officer, played a key role in this. To date, it has also been possible to realise three donor-funded leisure activities for Ukrainian children and young people who were themselves or whose families were severely affected by the war, supported by the Youth Welfare Office.
The founding of the "International Alliance for Peace and Cohesion in Europe", the "Homburg Alliance", in July 2022 sent the right signal to Ukraine in particular that there is an unreserved consensus on wanting to strengthen the European community and restore peace. Together with its alliance partners, the Saarpfalz district is also pursuing the goal of involving the civilian population of the Ukrainian regions at all levels in order to anticipate Ukraine's accession to the EU at local level. This is also in line with the decision of the European Council of 14 December 2023.
District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo: "German-Ukrainian relations are developing dynamically. Just three years ago, there was a sense of restraint, but this has changed since 24 February 2022. Lively alliances and partnerships are the basis for cohesion at the civil society level and thus for a united Europe," says District Administrator Dr Gallo. The Saarpfalz district's approach is also confirmed by the resolution of the German UNESO Commission of 27 June 2023 entitled "Strengthening UNESCO networks means strengthening the culture of peace". The Bliesgau biosphere, and thus a large part of the Saarpfalz district, is part of the UNESCO biosphere reserve network and fully fulfils UNESCO's requirements through its partnerships with the Polish/Ukrainian biosphere regions of Eastern Carpathia and Roztocze. Meanwhile, in October 2022, the German Federal President and the Ukrainian President have also called for the establishment of municipal partnerships as an "indispensable part of a living Europe of civil societies ... of local democracy ...".
As on the first anniversary, District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo will take part in the major event to mark the second anniversary on 24 February in Saarbrücken and will be a speaker. The "UkraineFreundeSaar" association is organising a demonstration for Ukraine under the motto "We stick together!", starting at 12.30 pm from Landwehrplatz. The programme also includes an exclusive screening of the documentary film "In Ukraine" by Piotr Pawlus and Tomasz Wolski. In addition, the exhibition "Art because of the war" will be on display in the city library.
"Although the war in Ukraine attracts the attention of foreign countries on a daily basis, it sometimes seems as if it is something mundane and distant. On the contrary: it is up to us to send the necessary signals to Ukraine so that the people affected by the war there are not forgotten even after two years, so that they feel that their suffering is visible and, at least in their thoughts, is supported to some extent by all of us. It is therefore necessary that as many citizens as possible in the Saarpfalz district and in Saarland show their lasting solidarity together. It is a sign of sympathy that we remember all fallen soldiers and the civilian victims of this unbearable war," calls District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo. "It is also up to us, through expressions of solidarity such as this one, to support our federal government and all political leaders in giving Ukraine the help it really needs to stand up to an inhuman system whose belligerent behaviour also threatens us in the rest of Europe and against which Ukraine is defending us. 'Without security, everything else is nothing' - this sentence by the Federal Chancellor must become our guiding principle as a compelling lesson from Russia's war of aggression. As long as we, the Federal Republic of Germany, cannot ensure our own security, we must strengthen and help our partners who are directly fighting the threat. Trusting in Russia's sincere desire for peace is not only naïve, also in view of its treatment of critics of the system such as Alexei Navalny, but is also grossly negligent in jeopardising our liberal democratic system in Germany and Europe," said the District Administrator.
Information on the district partnerships and the Saarpfalz district's European work can be obtained from the Saarpfalz district's European Affairs Officer, Dr Violetta Frys, by calling (06841) 104-8273 or sending an e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected].