Residents of Zakarpattia have appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, asking to clarify the position of Belgian Ambassador to Ukraine Luc Jacobs regarding the construction of a resort in the Svydovets ridge area, which was published by several Ukrainian outlets. This was stated in an official appeal of the Ust-Chorna and Yasinia communities of Zakarpattia region.
"We, the representatives of the highest-mountain communities of Zakarpattia, are reaching out to you in connection with media reports about the recent visit of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Ukraine, Mr. Luc Jacobs, to the Svydovets ridge. The mentioned publications contain information about his concern regarding potential development of the ridge. This casts doubt on the prospects for developing this territory. Given the significance of such a statement, it is fundamentally important for us to determine whether the expressed views reflect the official position of the Kingdom of Belgium, or whether they represent the personal opinion of the Ambassador," the appeal reads.
As emphasized by the communities of Zakarpattia, attempts to build the resort have faced resistance from foreign activists who involve Ukrainian media and even official representatives of other states in discrediting the project. Therefore, residents of Zakarpattia are requesting clarification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium as to whether it indeed holds an official position regarding the construction of the resort in the Svydovets ridge.
"Our communities have been defending the right to development in courts for many years, while simultaneously fighting against illegal logging. Unfortunately, these efforts are often accompanied by discrediting campaigns and the spread of false information, creating a distorted perception of the real intentions of the region's residents. We would be grateful for an official clarification on whether the Kingdom of Belgium shares the position voiced by the Ambassador concerning the development of Ukrainian regions, including Zakarpattia. We remain open to constructive dialogue and sincerely invite representatives of the Kingdom of Belgium to visit our communities in order to become acquainted with the real state of affairs and our initiatives," the statement says.
As a reminder, activists opposing the construction of new recreational infrastructure in the Svydovets ridge publicly claimed alleged support from the Belgian Ambassador to Ukraine Luc Jacobs. On Facebook, activists published photos of the Belgian Ambassador's private visit to Zakarpattia; however, there were no direct quotes from the Ambassador himself.
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