President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and a number of other officials who take part in the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, will not join the Ukrainian Lunch organized by pro-Russian billionaire, media mogul and founder of Yalta European Strategy Victor Pinchuk after the publication of Pinchuk’s commentary on December 29, 2016, in The Wall Street Journal where he called to give up Crimea and medium-term hopes of European Union and NATO membership for peace in Donbas.
“The president of Ukraine will travel to Swiss Davos where he will join the program at the World Economic Forum. However, he will not participate in the breakfast organized by Viktor Pinchuk,” said president’s spokesperson Sviatoslav Tseholko.
However not all officials will skip the Ukrainian Lunch organized by pro-Russian oligarch Viktor Pinchuk Foundation at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction MP Serhii Leshchenko is going to take part in it:
“Why did I decide to attend it? Because active stance is always better than burying your head in the sand and say: “My eyes are closed, you do not exist.” You can either open your eyes or close, this will not alter the reality. The event will take place, but the alternative opinions advocating different point of view that the proposed plan is flawed should also be voiced. And those who refuse [to attend it] do a favor to those intending to participate,” said Serhii Leshchenko.
“Those boycotting [Pinchuk’s event] bolster the opinions of the attendees. Boycott makes no sense as participation or non-participation will change nothing. Such approach is erroneous. It shows certain degree of immaturity of the person making the decision,” stated the MP.
“The job of politicians is to uphold their positions, express opinion of the voters who have delegated them to the parliament, be proactive. A boycott is not a proactive stance but just a posture,” added the politician.
The 47th WEF session on January 17-20, 2017, in Swiss Davos, has the biggest number of delegates, around 3 thousand in total. Among them more than 50 Presidents and government heads, senior managers of big international corporations and well-known public figures. Though German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau will not take part in the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2017.
