On 7 May 2007, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk came to Ottawa on an official visit. During this time, the Minister met with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper; the Speaker of the House of Commons, Hon. Peter Milliken; with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Peter MacKay; the Minister responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Hon. Josée Verner; the Minister of International Trade, Hon. David Emerson; the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism, Hon. Jason Kenney; and the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Stéphane Dion. He also met with the leadership of the Canada Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group.
In the course of his meetings with Canadian officials, Mr. Yatsenyuk encouraged Canada to send observers to monitor the upcoming Ukrainian parliamentary elections. When meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Harper, the discussions touched on the need for better trade between the two countries and the importance of bilateral visits between Canada and Ukraine at the level of heads of state and heads of governments. The Prime Minster noted the important contribution made by the Ukrainian Canadian community towards the socio-economic development of Canada. Minister Yatsenyuk agreed, stating that Ukrainian Canadians could serve as examples of a civically-involved citizenry for Ukrainians not only in Ukraine but in all parts of the world.
In his talks with Minster MacKay, Minister Yatsenyuk discussed a range of issues including cooperation in international organizations, student and academic exchanges and Ukraine’s accession to the World Trade Organization. Canada and Ukraine signed a $5 million agreement that would see Canada assist Ukraine in increasing security at airports and in the intercession of illegally exported nuclear materials. At CIDA, the ministers spoke about projects involving the reformation of Ukraine’s diplomatic service, reforming government administration, encouraging civic society while developing local self-government capacities and rural development.
During his visit to Ottawa, Minster Yatsenyuk presented the Speaker of the House of Commons with a letter from President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine that asked for support of Ukraine’s campaign to have the Holodomor Famine of 1932-33 in Ukraine recognized internationally as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian nation.
The Chair of the Canada Ukraine Committee of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Jars Balan, offered the following observations about the visit: “The UCC is pleased that our federal government has provided Minister Yatsenyuk with access to the Prime Minister and senior members of cabinet. The topics discussed reflect closely the issues that UCC has raised with the government on many occasions. Canadian aid targeted at helping Ukraine reform its governance structures and at fostering civic society have proven successful in the past and remain important for Ukraine’s future development. Increased trade will boost Canada’s economy and assist Ukraine in diversifying its trading relationships worldwide. UCC is especially interested in the area of increased exchange opportunities with Ukraine. People-to-people public diplomacy is vital in ensuring that the highly respected Canadian values of tolerance and cooperation are exported into the world. Simultaneously, Canadians receive an education in the rich heritage and cultural legacy of Ukraine while learning from Ukrainian models in science, technology and agriculture. It should also be noted that the community is on record as being committed to working with the government of Ukraine on the issue of international recognition for the Holodomor-Famine of 1932-33 as genocide.”
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk (centre) accompanied by Ukrainian Ambassador Ihor Ostash meets with Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk with Joy Smith, MP (Kildonan – St. Paul), Hon. Senator Raynell Andreychuk (Saskatchewan) and UCC President Orysia Sushko, Ottawa May 7, 2007.
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