Friends!

Today we celebrate 80 years since the birth of famous Ukrainian Mykola Vingranovsky. I want you to rememberhim, because honor of such wonderful artists, who lifted Ukraine have to be remembered through the centuries. I shall tell some interesting facts you may not know about him.

Mykola Vingranovsky was born in the Mykolaiv region. Now we know him as a famous actor, director, and most of all - the poet of the sixties, but at the childhood he was a simple country boy, perhaps a little dreamy, who could go to feed the flock and lose half of it because of dreams. But he noticed all that the eye of the average person passed, and was able to enjoy it.

Vingranovsky was extremely talented and charismatic. It helped him to enter the university in Kiev. All decided the exam where a man had to play a spectator of film with Charlie Chaplin. All entrants before him laughed and pretended fun and Vingranovsky just sat down on a chair and fell asleep. Commission was impressed, and later so was Olexander Dovzhenko. Master arrived to Kyiv to recruit a group of top students who later went to study with him in Moscow. Mykola Vingranovsky became his student and it influenced his work a lot.

Vingranovsky starred in Dovzhenko’s film "Tale of ardent years," for which he even received an award in Los Angeles. After the university he began to work at the Kiev Film Studio. It seems it was so long ago, but while working he saw the difference between Ukrainian and Russian, which became apparent to all just now:

"Directors of the studio in Kiev were slightly strange, they spoke slowly, with pauses, like thay breathed deep into and could notbreath the air out. But when they spoke, their voices were copper! But pople from Russia behaved - as if they were Marshal Zhukov! And this directors looked at all like from the height of the Kremlin ruby ​​stars! This way they looked on Roland Sergienko and me. But after the grand success of "The Tale of ardent years," all of them were nothing for me.”

At the student times Vingranovsky began to write poetry, and after the success of Dovzhenko’s film he released the first book of poems "Nuclear preludes." His words were very important for Ukraine at the time, when only 5 years ago the Stalin cult wasdebunked and all began to evolve differently. Critics said that Vingranovsky had something from two - from Shevchenko and from Dovzhenko and this can not but argued. The strong image of Ukraine, love and understanding of people and their fate - are the main features of the works of Mykola Vingranovsky. He had an unique language, in which he spoke about the homeland, the parents, thelove. His words became a guide for many past and future generations.

Mykola Vingranovsky unfortunately died before his people again began to struggle for independence and freedom - things that he respected the most. But despite this, his immortal words were heard repeatedly from the Maidan stage in different years, urging Ukrainian fight for their country and justice.

Until his death he lived in Kiev, and ardently wanted to return to the village – he wanted to buy a small tractor and cultivate the land. And not because he was old, he was only 67 years old. That is how he saw further development of Ukraine, which, like his life, started with work on the land, which for some reason the next generation stopped to appreciate. Friends, value your landyou’re your heroes!

Friends!

I want to tell you something very interesting. Have you ever heard about thr secret intelligence unit in the IDF? It is called 9900, and is engaged to the exploration of electronic data. But its feature is different. There are people who have autism.

Thanks to some violation of the nervous system this soldiers work with the information several times faster, specific opportunities help them to cope with extremely large data sets, and notice that the average human eye may miss. These skills have saved hundreds of lives.

First recruits with autism were taken in 2013. The idea arose suddenly. In one family of Israeli military man died a son, also a soldier, who served at the border with Gaza. To his funeral came some father’s Army friends. One shared problem, he told about his two sons, who are still alive, but seemingly not - because they got autism and no one wants to get in touch with them. A retired spy heard it. Later the idea came to his mind, he understood, that unique skills of autistic people have to be used. The idea was supported by the director of foreign spy intelligence service "Mossad" Tamir Pardo. He worked out a plan of action, developed a program to train new recruits, which includes even the course of socialization, so they could easily work with commanders and colleagues.

It took 3 years and this unit became one of the most elite. And this is not the limit. Now the Israeli army launched a project "Roim rehok" («We see it far"). This is the three-month specialized training, after which the soldiers with features of mental development can gain wider knowledge that will help them to switch to any other squad of IDF.

Thus, the Israeli military didn’t only solve the problem of the employment of autistic people and their further socialization, but also once again raised the IDF to a new level, because the ability of new soldiers helped to carry out the necessary work better and faster.

I am sure the Ukrainian army is still at the stage of its development, the decades without funding and improving the material base did not pass by. So Ukrainian Army has to borrow these ideas. We must not be afraid of dramatic and sometimes risky decisions that may fundamentally change the army and bring it to the next level.

Friends!

Each of us has its own special concept of happiness, that arises from the experience and expertise that person receives in life. And I'm sure that most happy moments a person can gain by assistance to others. It nourishes the soul by kindness and gratitude, gives strength and meaning of existence. I always try to support and help those, who are in need.

Especially - children. And it is not even about some global support. Believe me, the slightest gesture to those who need it - is a big deal. Recently representatives of charity "Help for the Future” asked me about the help. They asked about the little things - tickets to the cinema for children, who are treated at Children's Hospital "OKHMATDYT."

You know that there are dozens of children with serious diagnoses, who even don’t go out of the hospital. Many of them had never been in a movie theater! And for the kids from the area of ATO it is generally an unprecedented adventure. It is so sad and regrettable that it is difficult to imagine.

After the visit the chief doctor wrote me. "Good day - it is not enough; the day was SUPER! You will not believe, but children with diabetes had normal sugar, but they ate plenty of goodies. And the joy of kids from Donbass was great, they were from Donetsk, Luhansk, Volnovakha, Dobropillya, Kostiantynivka! "

I am happy to make them a little bit happier. I wish them a soon recovery, bright days and bright impressions!

I urge you, dear friends, not to be indifferent. Extend a helping hand to those who need it and you will become richer. At least spiritually.

"Peace is not concluded with a friend. Peace laids with the enemy."

This is the immortal quote of Yitzhak Rabin, Israel's prime minister, a strong and resolute man. On this day 21 years ago he was killed. Treacherously. Shot in the back.

Yitzhak Rabin was born in Jerusalem, and you will not be surprised when I tell you that he came, like many prominent Israeli figures from Ukraine. His grandfather, Menachem Rabichov lived in Kyiv region, and his father emigrated to the US when he reached adulthood.

Yitzhak, the child of Israel, was fully committed to it. He was a legend, he led major military operations in the war in 1947 - 1949 years. In 1967, when the Six-Day War unfolded, it was he, who headed the General Staff and under his command Israel won a brilliant victory over Egypt, Syria and Jordan.

The Israelis loved him and most of all – believed him. The man who saw the war, he told that "Palestinians should be destroyed to thebone," but completely changed his views when sat in the Prime Minister's seat again. As a prudent man, he understood that citizens are tired of the war and terrorism, the constant threat about life. He decided to sign the agreement in Oslo, which was used to bring peace to Israel's land. In all cells, he shook hands with his worst enemy - Yasser Arafat, the PLO leader. For this, they both and Shimon Peres received the Nobel Peace Prize. That could be a new page in the history of Israel. The page for which the Israelis were waiting.

And there was no way it should have happened. Extremist Yigal Amir decided that Yitzhak Rabin had betrayed everyone and deservesto die. And he identified himself as the "messenger of God" who should send Rabin to the other world. Several times he tried to commit a murder, but he could not. But the terrible day came. Yitzhak Rabin came to speak to the people to the square of the Kings of Israel in Tel Aviv, on this occasion hundreds of thousands of Israelis brought together. He spoke at with them about peace. When hewent off the stage, right in the parking lot, near his car, waited the killer. Several shots from a pistol "Beretta" to the back, and the guards pushed Rabin into a car and took him to the hospital. And the way took several times longer than usual. Thousands of people stopped to congratulate the prime-minister car and were not even aware that he was mortally wounded and will be dead in a few hours.

The death of Yitzhak played a big role in the peace process with the Palestinians. More precisely, his finish. His successors failed to negotiate with Arafat on reasonable terms. He did not respect anybody except Rabin. After his death Arafat even visited his wife Leia, to express condolences.

But the killer is still alive. Yigal Amir was sentenced to life imprisonment. He is very proud of his act and considers himself a national hero. Even in prison, he married - to a Russian woman Larissa. What an irony, right? She later gave birth to his child - a son Yinona. The ceremony of circumsation of a boy was held on the 4th of November, 12 death anniversary of Rabin. It seems that words are superfluous.

Israel issued its own lesson from this tragedy. Counterintelligence, which through murder Rabin had a lot of issues had major changes and cleanings. And also improved the level of intelligence, because the threat still waited just outside the country, but this situation taught to look at the problem from all sides. But still it is very difficult to understand that one person can change the course of history of the country forever. However, both in bad, and in the good sense.

Friends!

We often wonder – where is the real Ukrainian elite? And it's not about people who occupy certain positions or flaunt fortune, but those who would build Ukraine, using their efforts, understanding and skills?

I will answer this question. The real Ukrainian elite, whose actions highly developed Ukraine and its culture, did it again significant and principal on their land, almost all were killed in Sandarmokh, Karelia. Nearly three hundred of the best Ukrainians, including 25 - of Jewish origin. All of them were shot in 5 days. What a bloody gift for Stalinist regime at the anniversary of the October revolution - genuine revival of Ukraine. In general, from 27 October to 4 November 1937 1111 prisoners were killed. We know their names due to the desperate people who studied this issue, for example, journalist and writer Sergei Shevchenko.

On the 3d of November most famous Ukrainian figures – Les Kurbas, Mykola Zerov, Mykola Kulish, Valerian Pidmohylny, Grigory Epik, three guys from Krushelnytsky family and over a hundred of wonderful people died there. At the lists of executioners, they were listed as "Ukrainian bourgeois nationalists", therefore they were extremely dangerous for the Stalin regime. All of them had different fine talents, each was strong in his element. Les Kurbas - as the founder of the new Ukrainian theater, Mykola Zerov - as representative of the Ukrainian "neoclassic", a talented scientist, Mykola Kulish - as a playwright and activist of education, Valerian Pidmohylny – as an outstanding writer and Grigory Epik – as writer and member of the. And how many of them were just educated Ukrainians who loved their land and died, because Stalin's regime considered it a "terror"? They were young, eager, talented. I am sure they devoted all their life to the last day to their homeland and would do more if they remained alive.

And now their images watch from three-meter cross in Sandarmokh. It is a symbol of the terrible loss that undoubtedly influenced the course of history. In the decades to lose elite by the repressions and farmers by the Holodomor what worse could be done for Ukraine?

I'm sure every Ukrainian must remember this tragic episode of history and know that there were people who laid their lives for what we can now do even daily - to develop, praise and improve Ukraine. It should be the aim of life of young people and the older generation. We paid such a high price and to do nothing now - is the greatest defeat.

Friends!

Yesterday at the meeting with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ukraine Mr Eliav Byelotserkovski I had the great honor to talk to the legendary Israeli violinist. His name is Shlomo Mintz. I was struck by the story of his, so I'll tell it to you.

Shlomo Mintz is a man,who can be called a genius of our time. He was born in Moscow in 1957, and when he was 2 years old, his family moved to Israel. The guy had been interested in music from an early age, and parents supported his talent. The future virtuoso studied from different teachers, and the most famous his mentor was an outstanding American violinist Isaac Stern, who also had Jewish origin. He made Shlomo believe in his talent and brought it to an extraordinary level.

Shlomo Mintz fastly rose at Musical Olympus. When he was 11 years he played on stage with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. When he was 16 he debuted at the world famous Carnegie Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. At 20 years old Shlomo Mintz firstly conducted a tour across Europe.

Since then, the legendary violinist acts only in the best halls of the world, with well-known orchestras and conductors. Today, at the 2 of November, he will play in Kiev, at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater. Along with him will act "Virtuosos of Kyiv" orchestra, they will present the works of undying classics. I'm sure the audience will be amazed with this action!

Dear Ukrainians, please, value the talented people among you, and do not forget to develop your own talents. It is extremely important!

Friends!

I think you all know what a Russian propaganda is. One Russian journalists called Israel «a boy from the gate», which sought for the help of «great uncles». This is how he described a Sinai campaign launched 60 years ago for the Kremlin mouthpiece - the "RIA Novosti"! Author wrote, that Israel wanted to annex the Suez Canal, such as Russia annexed the Crimea, and there is nothing in this. And, of course, remembered Georgia. He said that Israel was the first to seek help of "powerful neighbors” and Georgia was the second. What do you think of that?

(Https://ria.ru/analytics/20161029/1480207544.html)

How was it? Indeed, these days 60 years ago began the Sinai campaign. Israel agreed to military action, but the reason was not to conquer territory. The main goal was to destroy the army of Egypt, which sought to strike the country from the south; elimination of terrorists - fedayi that killed, robbed, raped Israelis and safely returned home. And finally - to restore access to the Straits of Tiran, which had been blocked.

The global picture at the time was: colonial system abused changes, and Israel borders with countries that were part of it - Africa and the Arab Middle East. Then Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, head of the General Staff Moshe Dayan and General Director of the Ministry of Defense Shimon Peres decided that Israel should become friendlier with France and Britain to combat the Arab terror.

Secret coalition started their plan after unilateral nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt. Countries invented the operation, according to which, Israel was the first to enter Egypt with the troops. Official London and Paris had to offer their help in resolving the conflict. Egypt could not accept that, so the military intervention began. David Ben-Gurion was very hesitant due to this decision. He knew the situation in the end would be decided by the USA and the USSR. The Soviet Union was interested in victory of Egypt, at the time they even supplied weapons there.

Yet it occurred. Operation was called "Kadesh." In a few days, the IDF seized Gaza, came to the Suez Canal. No one expected that from the army of Israel. In the end, under pressure from the UN General Assembly (which was affected by the United States and the Soviet Union) troops quickly withdrew. So, small young country Israel felt strong. It managed to achieve all the set goals.

Now Russian propahnada makers want to present the history of Israel as they need. This is nonsense. I'm sure Ukraine will complete its mission and stop the Russian aggression, which unfolded not only in the Crimea and eastern Ukraine, but also in people's heads. Russian propaganda machine is run for a long time, it is spreading around the world and affecting different countries. And it must beconstantly fighted. Only by doing so, having gained a comprehensive victory, the Ukrainian will get peace.