Ottawa UCC and Ukraine's envoy discuss areas of mutual concern

OTTAWA - The president of the Ottawa Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and members of the executive met with the ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, Volodymyr Furkalo, to discuss key issues of concern.

"We are looking for a new era of cooperation," said the ambassador following the meeting at the Embassy.

The most far-reaching issue discussed was a new global initiative to end famine-genocides. The initiative, put forward by UCC Ottawa and adopted by the World Congress of Ukrainians, will seek agreement from the governments of Canada and Ukraine to sponsor a joint commemorative action at the United Nations condemning famine-genocides and the use of food as an instrument of war and suppression.

"The World Congress is a powerful forum to champion such a major human rights issue," said Oksana Bashuk Hepburn, president of the UCC Ottawa. "On the 65th anniversary of the famine-genocide in Ukraine that eliminated 7 million people, the Ukrainian diaspora has a moral obligation to focus on the fact that dictators are still using food as an instrument of wars and political suppression."

"We will be putting the initiative forward to our government," said Ambassador Furkalo.

UCC Ottawa, acting as an organizing committee for the World Congress of Ukrainians, advised that it has had initial discussions with officials of the Canadian governments, as well as with the United Nations Association of Canada.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights that condemns the use of food as an instrument of war or coercion.

Also discussed was the celebration of the seventh anniversary of independence of Ukraine, a daylong celebration featuring debates, dancing, bonfire sing-alongs, sport tournaments and children's activities, organized by the UCC. The celebrations will be held at the St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Camp at Newcomb Lake in Quebec on August 23. Funds collected will go to the Ukrainian Famine Genocide Scholarship Fund.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, August 23, 1998, No. 34, Vol. LXVI

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