Assessing Ukraine’s relationship with Canada

It is my great pleasure to work in Canada which was the first Western country to recognize Independent Ukraine on December 02, 1991. I would also like to note that even before that, on September 22, Chairman of Ukrainian Parliament Leonid Kravchuk accompanied by Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko visited Canada and signed Declaration on relations between Canada and Ukraine. That was a clear signal on the eve of Ukraine’s Independence that we were ready to start active engagement in developing mutually beneficial relations as reliable and true partners.

All the following years we have been constantly feeling sincere and permanent support by Canada of our aspirations to further integrate into the world processes. We could see that during high-level contacts as well as in a range of bilateral arrangements. 

Among such arrangements is Joint Declaration on Special Partnership between Ukraine and Canada signed back in 1994. We also remember the words of Canadian Prime Minister Harper when he said (on April 18, 2007) that «no Western country has closer ties to Ukraine than Canada», which has always supported freedom and democracy for Ukraine.

A number of bilateral documents fix the two countries’ explicit pledges to develop comprehensive dialogue and cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian, cultural and other spheres. Such interaction undoubtedly promotes both Ukrainian and Canadian interests and weights all over the world.

Another evidence of Canadian interest in strong, independent and democratic Ukraine became the events of Presidential election campaign in our country in November-December 2004. Canada sent the biggest Mission of observers which totaled more than 500 persons and was headed by former Prime Minister of Canada John Turner.

That was the time when the new period in our bilateral relations began. Political dialogue assumed new shapes, new incentives. After 14 years of a pause, on January 23, 2005 Governor General of Canada paid a visit to Ukraine. Adrienne Clarkson took part in Inaugural Ceremonies of President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko.

Later on we could see active contacts both during visits as well as at international forums where Heads of States, Ministers and Speakers of Parliaments have met. We also remember exchange of visits of Foreign Ministers during one year, in 2007 (first since 2001), which as a rule is not a general diplomatic practice.

And of course, a special attention is paid to the state visit of Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko to Canada on May 26-29, 2008. The President addressed Joint Session of the House of Commons and the Senate of the Parliament of Canada which is again not a usual practice in Canada.

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Canada also follow the practice of political consultations (the last held on October 31, 2008 in Ottawa) to discuss bilateral cooperation and international agenda. 

I would also like to note the interaction of the two countries within the framework of the UN and other international organizations which is held in a constructive and partnership way.

Referring to the topic of the today’s Symposium it is my pleasure to note Canada’s strong support of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. This could be seen in a number of statements of senior Government officials, in particular, Prime Minister Harper’s statement during the NATO Bucharest Summit in April 2008. Stephen Harper said that through its actions at home and abroad Ukraine had demonstrated that it shares the values of NATO.

I cannot but also mention Canada’s letter among a number of NATO Allies on the eve of the Bucharest Summit, addressed to their partners with an appeal to support Ukraine’s accession to Membership Action Plan.

We all heard Canada’s consistent support of our way towards NATO during the mentioned Foreign Minister’s visits in 2007, Ukrainian President’s visit in 2008 as well as other high-level contacts.

Along with deeply appreciated consultative support on our path towards NATO Canada has been involved in constant promotion of Ukrainian military officers’ skills since 1993. I am speaking about Ukraine’s participation in the Canadian Military Training Assistance Program (MTAP) aimed at linguistic and professional training of specialists to take part in peacekeeping operations. Canada has provided 899 training seats for our militaries. Ukraine takes the second place in the list of the countries representatives of which are participating in the abovementioned program.

Another mechanism of military cooperation is the International peacekeeping exercise “Maple Arch” under a Canadian assistance program. This exercise helps prepare Ukrainian, Lithuanian and Polish militaries for rotation of national peacekeeping contingents that are taking part in operations under the NATO auspices.

It is also my pleasure to note that Ukraine for the first time has started to take part in the six-month international training course. A course for military officers on cooperation with civilians, organized by the Canadian Department of National Defence. Ukraine is one of three countries (Macedonia, Bolivia) that were invited by Canada.

It was repeatedly stressed that our countries share strong belief that independence, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as the right of every single nation to freely determine its own destiny are recognized as key international principles. That could be seen during military hostilities in Georgia last August when our two countries expressed solidarity in their positions in particular when Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada Helena Guergis visited Kyiv on September 01-02, 2008.

Ukraine and Canada are closely dealing with current international challenges. We cooperate both bilaterally and multilaterally to counter international terrorism and its financing, as well as international organized crime. Here I should note Canada’s assistance to make the state border of Ukraine safe from trafficking in illicit nuclear materials. This is being realized under the framework of the Initiative «Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction». In particular, on January 22, 2009 the Government of Canada made a decision to contribute $ 4 mln. for the installation of radiation-detection equipment at key border crossings in Ukraine.

Another contribution of our states to fight terrorism is the participation of their military contingents in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Ukraine has also opened its air space for NATO aircrafts within the framework of this operation, and has pledged to provide military and technical assistance to Afghanistan. We suggest using the Security Service of Ukraine facilities to instruct and train Afghan special forces and services. Ukraine is committed to further increase its capabilities in Afghanistan.

I don’t think that the bilateral trade volumes which in 2008 were more than $ 550 mln. fully reflect the readiness of our businesses to deepen their ties. With this in mind we have renewed the practice of bilateral business forums. The next forum is to be held in Canada this year. Senior officials of both countries, representatives of businesses and public institutions will discuss key issues of trade and economic relations, cooperation in energy sphere and of course the interregional ties between Ukraine and Canada. Taking this opportunity I would like to extent to you invitation to attend the forum.

However, today we can see intensification of our bilateral economic cooperation. I have no doubts that that became possible particularly as a result of Ukraine’s joining to the WTO which was wholeheartedly supported by Canada.

Ukraine is in the list of 20 priority countries for Canadian technical assistance programs, realized through the Canadian International Development Agency. Since 1991 the Government of Canada has always been close to Ukraine and provided our country with more than $ 350 mln. in efforts to build democratic society and market economy, resolve social and ecological problems, and deepen the existing political and economic ties between the two states.  

Canada is actively promoting consolidation of the international community efforts to tackle the consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant catastrophe. The Canada’s overall contribution into realization of the relevant projects is $ 75 mln.

In light of the special kinship that exists between our countries, the Canadian Government recognized Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine as genocide of the Ukrainian nation. We deeply value this remembrance which is a living memorial to the victims of the terrible tragedy in the history of Ukrainian people. We were also pleased to welcome Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism of Canada Jason Kenney at International Forum on Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine which was held in Kyiv on November 22, 2008. By the way Jason Kenney was the only Minister among official guests who was given a floor along with the Presidents of Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia and Poland at that event.

Canada is a special country for Ukrainians.

Probably there is no other country in the world where persons of Ukrainian descent have ever been so widely represented in almost all the spheres of life. Enough to mention such famous politicians as former Governor General of Canada Ramon Hnatyshyn whose father Ivan Hnatyshyn was a Canadian senator, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, former Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Sylvia Fedoruk, former Premier of Saskatchewan Roy Romanow, current members of National Parliament Borys Wrzesnewskyj and James Bezan etc. As Minister Kenney said Ukrainian community in Canada is the biggest and the best organized one. In some provinces, for example Alberta, Ukrainian language is probably more widely used than French.

All this makes relations between Ukraine and Canada even not true, friendly or strategic but really special. And I have no doubts that our countries will further develop this Special Partnership as it has always been in a sound, true and steady manner.