The opening ceremony of the memorial to the victims of the Holodomor in 1932-1933 took place in Washington this Saturday.

I think it is very symbolic that this memorial is opened at a time when the Ukrainian people defend their right for their own existence once again. As a strategic partner the United States support Ukraine not for the first time and express their solidarity in the struggle for independence and freedom.

The memorial was built jointly by the Government of Ukraine and Ukrainian Diaspora in the USA to commemorate millions of Ukrainians who died of famine.

The memorial was set at Capitol Hill close to the complex of buildings of the US Congress at the Columbus Square in front of Union Station, the largest railway station of the American capital.

At the opening and consecrating ceremony of the memorial there were thousands of Ukrainians from different states, as well as Americans of Ukrainian descent. The president's wife Marina Poroshenko, the US senators and representatives of the diplomatic corps, as well as religious, cultural and public figures took part at the opening ceremony.

The monument is a bronze plate on a stone base in the form a field of wheat spikelets. They symbolize the millions of lives, destroyed by artificial famine. The idea of the memorial of Larissa Kurilas, American of Ukrainian descent won the contest.

At the opening ceremony of the monument Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, addressed to the participants in video message. During the ceremony a video message of President Barack Obama was broadcasted as well as appeals of former US President George W. Bush, the presidential candidate, the former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, congressmen and senators.

The US has always expressed solidarity with Ukraine in its aspiration for democratic goals. The opening of the memorial demonstrates once again that the United States and Ukraine share the same values. The Americans like the Ukrainians understand that the most valuable thing is a human life. Today Ukrainians faced closely once again the necessity of self-defense. Therefore such demonstration of our allies’ support can not be overstated.

I completely agree with the words of Marina Poroshenko, who said in her speech: "We commemorate every soul, every victim, and every martyr. This monument is a resurrection of our national memory. I would like this pedestal to become an admonishment of crimes against mankind and humanity all over the world. "