On February 24, 2022, Russian Federation military forces overtly and violently transgressed the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine. Membership in the Portland-Khabarovsk Sister City Association affords no equivocation on that point. That said, comity – not opposition – is at the heart of all PKSCA activity.
In last year’s Membership brochure I wrote:
PKSCA’s projects, events and exchanges all amount to the same thing: Building a transnational community to promote mutual understanding.
In an Oregonian editorial published June 13, 2022 – in response to calls for the City of Portland to cut ties with Khabarovsk – I wrote:
We will not throw away a prospective opportunity to buttress the foundations of political reform that we see emerging throughout the Russian Far East.
PKSCA membership is not appeasement of Russian Federation aggression. It is rather a statement of support for an important citizen-to-citizen program for peace..
PKSCA does not exist independent of its members. Please join the Board of Directors in renewing your PKSCA membership.