ENT bodies stand up for Ukraine STATEMENTS IN FULL

IFOS position regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The whole democratic world is deeply concerned and shocked by the aggressive Russian military invasion and war against Ukraine supported by Belarus. Civilian human beings are suffering from totalitarian aggression. Huge damage on civil constructions, roads and power stations are the tragic outcomes of this nonsense action. Many organisations show their negative attitude towards the Russian organisations being a member of international bodies. Russian and Belarussian societies for ORL and HNS are also the members of IFOS. After discussion in the IFOS Executive committee, Regional Secretaries and IFOS Counsellors we decided to take following measures to show very clearly the IFOS position regarding this international unaccepted situation:

• IFOS strongly protests and refuses the Russian aggressive invasion to Ukraine supported by Belarus
• IFOS will stop any training and educational activities in the territory of Russia and Belarus
• IFOS will not exclude the Russian Belarussian ORL HNS Societies from IFOS unless the Russian and Belarussian ORL HNS societies openly support the Russian military invasion to Ukraine
• IFOS will welcome individual Russian and Belarussian otorhinolaryngologists in the IFOS international activities.

Milan Profant, IFOS General Secretary, and Bernard Fraysse, IFOS President

Suspension of Russia from ESPO

It is with great concern and sadness that ESPO has witnessed the Russian invasion and war unfolding in Ukraine. While we are an organisation with members throughout Europe and across the world, including Ukraine and Russia, we cannot take a neutral stance in this di­sastrous conflict. While we do not hold our Russian members accountable for the atrocities in Ukraine, regrettably a country’s governmental decisions spill over to its nationals.

The ESPO Executive Board, in consultation with the Members’ Committee, has accordingly decided to suspend Russia as an ESPO member country and remove its attendance and voting rights at ESPO Council meetings until further notice. However, we recognise that Russian members of ESPO do not necessarily support the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and so we do not propose to sanction or exclude them as individuals at this time.

ESPO wishes to provide every possible support to our Ukrainian colleagues in this crisis.

Martin Bailey, ESPO Secretary-General and Jean-Michel Triglia, ESPO President

Statement of the Confederation of European ORL-HNS on War in Ukraine.

The confederation condemns the act of war and attack on Ukraine by Russian troops. As a non-political, scientific and educational umbrella organisation of all Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Societies in Europe aiming to create a single voice, we stand united against this war causing loss of precious human life and creating a humanitarian crisis.

We express our deepest sympathy and support to our Ukrainian members by heart and all other members who reject this nonsense act of aggression. We believe that none of our members as medical specialists would support a war and its collateral damage to human beings and in this tragic situation to the wellbeing of Ukrainian people and our colleagues there. We urge an immediate ceasefire to stop further casualties and the region receive the support and resources they need for providing humanitarian or medical assistance to those in need.

Even though the resources of the confederation and the practical support we can deliver is limited, we are ready to provide whatever help and assistance we can to our fellow colleagues in Ukraine in the short and long term to rebuild their capacity.

Furthermore, for all our members and individuals who would like to contribute to the relief efforts in the region, the confederation requests you to donate to international humanitarian organisations listed below, who already have direct access to civilians and refugees requiring imminent help.

While we observe the ongoing violence and destruction with utmost concern and sadness, we are hoping for peaceful days to come as soon as possible, so that we can truly enjoy the benefits of our perfectly working collegial harmony in Europe. In that sense and due to the current circumstances, even if the confederation can no longer undertake activities within Russia and Belarus till the peace is reestablished, our colleagues from those countries, whom we are confident that they individually also seek for peace are furthermore welcome to our international activities.

On behalf of the Presidential Council of the Confederation of European ORL-HNS

Jan Plzak, MD, CEORL-HNS General Secretary, and Cem Meço, MD, CEORL-HNS President

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