“Parliamentary Friends of Ukraine” Meeting in Canberra
On Wednesday, 4 March, His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, together with representatives of the clergy of the Melbourne Eparchy, participated in a reception to launch “Parliamentary Friends of Ukraine” in Canberra.
On this day, Cardinal Mykola was accompanied by Deacon Michael Zylan, Chancellor of the Melbourne Eparchy, and Fr. Vasyl Motrichenko, Administrator of St. Volodymyr Parish in Canberra.
The event, organised by Senators Deborah O’Neill and James Paterson, was held at the Parliament House and brought together representatives of the Australian government and parliament, as well as numerous friends of Ukraine. Among those attending were the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate, Ms. Penny Wong; the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Mr. Don Farrell; and the Speaker of the Australian Parliament, Mr. Milton Dick. Also present were the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia, Mr. Vasyl Myroshnychenko; the Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, Kateryna Argyrou; and a delegation of Members of Parliament of Ukraine.
As Bishop Mykola noted after the meeting: “What was particularly striking for me was that one of the points made by the politicians present was that while they may have many disagreements on various issues, when it comes to supporting Ukraine, there is no dispute — they are all united in the view that such support must continue.”
