On September 30, Lviv City celebrated its 750th Anniversary. Victor Yushchenko of Ukraine, Lech Kaczynski of Poland and Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania, First Lady Kateryna Yushchenko, Poland’s First Lady Maria Kaczynska, Foreign Minister Borys Tarasyuk, Lviv Governor Borys Oliynyk, Lviv Council Head Myroslav Senyk, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyand Kyiv Mayor Leonid Chernovetsky attended the event.

Victor Yushchenko has spoken at an official ceremony to mark the 750-year anniversary of Lviv, the president press office informed.

In his speech, the President said: “I have been intimately conversing with Lviv for many years. Circumstances, Lviv and I change in this dialogue but today I will responsibly express Ukraine’s infinite gratitude to Lviv.”

President Yushchenko said he treated all Ukrainian cities, towns and regions equally but admitted that he profoundly valued “the distinct and consolidating national character Lviv displays.”

“I firmly believe that Ukraine will be truly great when it overcomes the slightest symptoms of internal phobias and stops heeding the imposed myths about the easterners and westerners, speaking with national confidence instead. In this context, the role of Lviv is special,” he opined.

The Head of State believes our “meaningful European path” is in Lviv and thus the city is destined to guide the country to Europe. He said he appreciated the “creative presence” of Poland and Lithuania in Lviv.

“On behalf of Ukraine, I am bowing my head to honor Lviv residents that sacrificed their lives for our country’s independence, among them Cossack riflemen, soldiers of the Ukrainian Galician Army and warriors of the Ukrainian Rebel Army. Addressing church patriarchs, I would like to honor the Greek Catholic Church, which pillars our nation,” he said.

Victor Yushchenko also thanked each resident of Lviv that contributed to the revival of Ukraine in 1991 and helped it gain freedom in 2004.

“The city of Lviv in Ukraine protects the nation from the threat of becoming inferior. Let these magnificent guards be always zealous and deserving, and that is the most important thing I want to wish my dear and beloved city,” he said.

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