June 6, 2024, Presentation to Portland City Council, Slides (Precepts and Goals) and Video (starting at minute 35)
PREAMBLE
With deep respect for the Russian people, and acting in accordance with the purpose for which the Portland-Khabarovsk Sister City Association (hereinafter “the Association”) was organized thirty-six years ago, to wit:
to foster and promote cultural, social, educational, and economic relations and to further international understanding, friendship, and goodwill between Portland, Oregon and Khabarovsk, Russia, and to promote the well-being of the public at-large
the Board of Directors of the Association declaims this Platform for Peace to articulate a basis for the end of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine that is consistent with international law, that recognizes the preeminence of human rights over the juridical rights of nation-states, that is culturally equitable, and which ensures the well-being of the Russian and Ukrainian peoples in perpetuity.
The Board of Directors of the Association hereby recommends to its Members and to all others who may wish to endorse this Platform for Peace the following Articles.
ARTICLES
Art. 1. We understand the history of the region in which Russia and Ukraine coexist but believe that present-day circumstances require adherence to, and mutual respect for, their shared international boundary in the interests of peace and prosperity.
Art. 2. We recognize Russia and Ukraine, individually and equally, as nation-states with all rights afforded under international law, including but not limited to the inviolability of their territorial limits as declared in the Belovezha Accords and as later affirmed by acts of lawfully authorized representatives of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Art. 3. We believe that militarily imposed “spheres of influence” are antithetical to the sovereignty of modern nation-states and that in an age of long-range missiles, satellites and nuclear armaments that such attempts at hegemony are counterproductive. Fair competition for the affinity and cooperation of neighboring nation-states should be encouraged.
Art. 4. We oppose any aggression that imperils the Russian people or Russia’s sovereignty. We oppose any aggression that imperils the Ukrainian people or Ukraine’s sovereignty. We understand that some Russian people (or “peoples”) live in Ukraine and that some Ukrainian people (or “peoples”) live in Russia. Nevertheless, we reject irredentism as irreconcilable with the concept of a modern nation-state. Likewise, we call on both Russia and Ukraine to protect all peoples living within their territorial limits without discrimination and irrespective of their claimed nationality, heritage or cultural affinity. Cultural norms and practices, so long as they do not infringe upon basic human rights or substantially impair the rights of nation-states, must be protected wherever they exist.
Art. 5. As a corollary to the rights of nation-states as juridical persons (e.g., as a practical legal construct dating back to the Peace of Westphalia), we believe that emigration and immigration across territorial boundaries must be recognized as a basic human right subject only to balancing against the territorial rights of nation-states.
Art. 6. We understand that the military power of nation-states can be usurped by individual and/or corporate actors to advance their private interests. We urge all nation-states to enact and enforce such statutes as necessary to ensure that private interests falsely purported to be national interests are not advanced by the military power of nation-states.
Art. 7. We understand that some defensive postures can be fairly perceived as aggression and urge all nations to mutually and cooperatively disarm and stand down as necessary to assure peace among all nation-states.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended to the Members of the Portland-Khabarovsk Sister City Association by consent of its Board of Directors by action at its regularly scheduled meeting on October 24, 2023.
Doug Rider
I endorse the well crafted “Platform for Peace”.> It is grounded on the BELOVEZHA ACCORDS.
The PKSCA BOARD should forward this outstanding thinking to it’s parent body: Sister Cities International.
.
I am a long standing citizen diplomat, seeking cooperation between our nation’s west coast
and the Russian Far East,.. I am a paid PKSCA member; and, Secretary, San Diego-Vladivostok
Sister City Society.
Jeff Musall
A fairly milk toast statement with some nice broad generalities but falling far short of what should be stated. Most notably, you open with a proclamation of deep respect for the Russian people. Why? Are you afraid to hurt their feelings? Because there’s no equal mention about respect for the Ukrainian people.
Article 2 simply agrees with international law, not going out on a limb there.
Article 3 is such double speak that it’s not entirely clear what you are getting at but it comes off like a dig at NATO expansion.. Then you double down with Article 7.
Why is Article 5 even included? To serve as cover for Russia kidnapping children?
You say “cease hostilities in accordance with International law.” The far more clear way to say that is to demand and immediate withdrawal of all Russian forces from the territory of Ukraine, which would be in accordance with international law. You conveniently avoid that. Not to mention, there is nothing with regard to Russian reparations for war crimes.
All in all, shameful double speak that falls far short of what Portland citizens should demand out of a sister city relationship.
trbenke
Thank you for your comments on the Platform for Peace. Your criticism that the seven Articles fall short of reasonable expectations is understandable in that the Platform for Peace is not intended as a comprehensive statement of the rights and responsibilities of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. It is instead intended as the least statement of legal principles as necessary to describe a peaceful system of international relations and to ensure the basic human rights of all peoples.
Stephen John Hill
Dear Sirs,
Having attended the zoom meeting today, I thought I would follow up by adding a few thoughts as to the possible reasons why the Mayor’s office in Kharbarovsk is currently stonewalling you.
As you are no doubt already aware, publicising any narrative of The Russo-Ukranian War which diverges from the official version (see the Kremlin’s own website) is a criminal offense in Russia; the offense, loosely translated, is discrediting the Russian armed forces. Using the words “war” or “invasion” is illegal in this context..
I hope this information was of some help..
Best Regards,
Stephen Hill.
trbenke
Stephen, good to hear from you, and sorry that it took so long for me to respond. Yes we are aware of the issue you raise and we agree with you generally. Good news though – the Mayor recently sent a short but positive letter to Alan Ellis. We will be discussing that and more at our next meeting June 25th – I hope to see you there. Regards, Thomas Benke