Ukraine-Canada: Sharing everything from people to trade (13 March, 2010)
Next year, Canada and Ukraine will mark 120 years of common history — that's how long it's been since the first Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Canada. Since that time, the Ukrainian-Canadian community, more than 1.2 million strong, has been contributing to Canada's political development, prosperity and cultural diversity. The latter moved into the mainstream of Canadian concerns in 1964 with the establishment of a Canadian policy on multiculturalism, written by Paul Yuzyk, a senator of Ukrainian descent. This important human dimension gives Ukraine-Canada relations a special and even unique character. Such common history, as well as our common values and interests, enhances our relations as partners and allies.
As such, it came as no surprise that Canada became the first Western country to recognize Ukraine's independence in December 1991, following a vote by Ukraine's citizens in a referendum on independence.
As Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, no Western country has closer ties to Ukraine than Canada, which has always supported freedom and democracy for Ukraine and will support Ukraine's right to determine its own destiny, without interference from outside interests.
Early evidence of our strong partnership began in 1992 when then foreign minister, Barbara McDougall, visited Ukraine, followed by a visit from then Governor General Ramon Hnatyshyn, another prominent Canadian of Ukrainian descent. That was followed by a visit of the president, Leonid Kuchma, to Canada in 1994.
In recent years, those relations have deepened. We have achieved an intense political dialogue and major achievements in the social, humanitarian and economic spheres. After an exchange of visits by foreign ministers in 2007, then president Victor Yushchenko, paid a state visit to Canada in 2008 and addressed a joint session of the House of Commons and the Senate. The same year, Canada recognized the Holodomor, the famine of 1932-33 brought on by Stalin's policies, as genocide against the Ukrainian people. That position was strengthened by Canada's co-authorship of resolutions honouring the memory of its victims by the UN General Assembly, UNESCO and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Last year, we welcomed Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean to Ukraine, a visit that was later followed by one from House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken. In September 2009, the heads of our foreign ministries resurrected the practice of annual bilateral meetings, and during the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly, they signed the Road Map of Ukraine-Canada relations. It defined a new level of co-operation between our states, and after the signing ceremony, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said Ukraine is for Canada a key European partner and Canada will strongly support Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. We highly value Canada's support in this regard, particularly clear statements made by Ms Jean and Mr. Harper.
Our high-level political dialogue in 2009 culminated in a December meeting between Ukrainian Foreign Minister Petro Poroshenko and his Canadian colleague, Lawrence Cannon, in Brussels.
Bilateral economic co-operation has become a cornerstone in Ukraine-Canada relations with both sides paying close attention to bilateral business forums. The next of these is scheduled to take place in Edmonton in June 2010. The main topics for discussion will be cooperation in agricultural, nuclear energy, finance sectors as well as economic partnerships between the regions. In March, we're planning a Toronto Canada-Ukraine aerospace partnership and technology forum and in April, a seminar dedicated to cooperation in the pharmaceutical business.
On the subject of cooperation in aerospace, 1 must mention a big bilateral project we started last year when the National Space Agency of Ukraine signed an agreement with Canada's MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to launch the first Ukrainian satellite communication system. Export Development Canada has contributed $254 million to this project. The communication system, among the other things, will serve for broadcasting the 2012 Euro-Cup soccer championship to be co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland.
But perhaps the most important recent development was a decision to start negotiations about free trade agreement between the two countries, an idea cemented during a visit by then international trade minister Stockwell Day. Two months later, our countries held preliminary consultations.
A free trade agreement would boost cooperation not only in trade but other fields such as nuclear energy, agriculture, and gas and oil production and transportation. We are interested in Canada's expertise in transportation of energy resources and gas pipeline maintenance, taking into account Canada's responsibility for some of most important oil and gas pipelines in the world. Canadian companies could also take part in projects connected with condensed gas terminal construction and offshore production of oil and gas in the Black and Azov Seas.
Today, we are striving to further develop cultural ties with Canada. We have decided, for example, to open a consulate-general in Edmonton, to strengthen the consular presence of Ukraine in Ottawa and Toronto. At the same time, we also hope Canada will introduce a visa-free regime for Ukrainians, as our country did for Canadian citizens in 2005. This will promote not only the humanitarian but also the economic aspects of our relations. The federal government is a strong supporter of Ukrainian democracy, and this is reflected by the fact that more than 300 Canadian observers monitored Ukraine's 2010 presidential elections.
Following the election, Mr. Harper congratulated president-elect Viktor Yanukovych on his victory, saying that Canada and Ukraine have a strong and significant relationship, based on the shared values of human rights, peace and democracy. He emphasized that Ukraine is a key partner for Canada in Europe, and has an important role in the development of democracy and security in the region.
Canada's value of friendship with Ukraine was marked by the participation of Peter Kent, minister of state of foreign affairs, in Viktor Yanukovych's inauguration.
Neither political developments nor economic difficulties can impede a deepening of Ukraine-Canada relations. The solid background has been established and joint efforts should be further evolved for mutual benefit between two nations that really share common values and interests.
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