Official Document, in Ukrainian, President of Ukraine Official Website [English translation by Heather Ferniuk for The Action Ukraine Report] Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 4, 2005

ON COMMEMORATION OF FAMINE VICTIMS IN UKRAINE

With the goal of ensuring due commemoration of famine victims, restoration of historical justice, deep awareness in citizens of the reasons for and effects of the genocide of the Ukrainian people, and strengthening in society of intolerance towards any forms of violence I order:

To establish that the enactment of concrete, active measure for thehonoring of famine victims and the support of persons who sufferedfrom the famines in Ukraine and the cultivation of respect for the historicpast and for people who lived through tragic pages in the history of theUkrainian people are priority tasks of the central and local organs ofexecutive power.

THE CABINET OF MINISTERS OF UKRAINE:

To take urgent measures for the acceleration of the preparation and submission of draft legislation regarding a political-legal assessment of the famines in the history of the Ukrainian people and the definition of status of citizens who suffered from the famines;

To ensure the carrying out of additional measures regarding the recognition by the international community of the famine of 1932-1933 in Ukraine as a genocide of the Ukrainian people and one of the greatest tragedies in the history of mankind;

To ensure the proper organization of and the holding of a yearly Day of Remembrance of Victims of the Famines and Political Repression with participation of relevant public institutions and youth

To create in a two-week period an Organizational Committee for the planning and executing of activities in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the 1932-1933 famines in Ukraine under the direction of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, having included representatives of central and local organs of executive power, organs of local self-government, and civil organizations in the composition of the Organizational Committee;

To ratify by the 20th of December 2005 a plan of activities for the years 2006-2008 in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the 1932-1933 famines in Ukraine by submission of the indicated Organizational Committee, having foreseen specifically the resolution of the question regarding the erection in Kyiv of a Memorial in Remembrance of the Famine Victims in Ukraine, and also memorials, monuments, and commemorative signs in other populated areas of Ukraine, and also the ordering of areas of burial of famine victims;

TO TAKE ACTIVE MEASURES FOR:

-the resolution of the question of creating a Ukrainian Institute of National Memorial by the 20th of November 2005;

-the introducing of propositions on giving the National historical preserves "Bukivnyans'ki graves" national status.

The Security Service of Ukraine to work through the issues of simplification of the access procedure for representatives of NGOs, research institutions, and scholars to archival materials that concern famine and political repression issues in Ukraine, and in case of need introduce propositions regarding the necessary changes in legislation.

The Head of the Secretariate of the President of Ukraine in a week's time
to put forth propositions concerning the ceremonies of observing in Kyiv
and the regions of Ukraine the honoring of the memory of famine victims.The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to ensure the holding of activities related to the 2005 designation of a Day of Remembrance of Victims of the Famines and Political Repression, specifically with the participation of representatives of the Ukrainian community abroad.

The State Committee on Television and Radio of Ukraine to ensure wide coverage in the mass media of activities related to the 2005-appointed Day of Remembrance of Victims of the Famines and Political Repression, and also preparation for the 75th anniversary of the 1932-1933 famine in Ukraine, and to organize a series of thematic television and radio programs and the publication of documents and materials about these tragic events.

The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko
November 4, 2005