Foreign Affairs Minister Tarasyuk begins Canadian visit in Winnipeg (06/18/00)

Foreign Affairs Minister Tarasyuk begins Canadian visit in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG - Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk began his June 11-13 visit to Canada for meetings with government officials and the business community with a two-day stopover in Manitoba in recognition of the province's diverse economic ties with Ukraine.

Minister Tarasyuk came to Canada on the invitation of Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy. According to the Eastern Economist, meetings with Canadian government officials were to concentrate on the fulfillment of obligations undertaken by the G-7 countries in funding the construction of the sarcophagus over the fourth reactor of Chornobyl nuclear power station and problems connected with plant's shutdown. Other issues on the agenda included Canadian lobbying of the International Monetary Fund to assist Ukraine in restoring the Extended Fund Facility program.

"During his visit to Canada, Minister Tarasyuk presented a 'new Ukraine,' with a government committed to real changes in politics and economics in order to improve the living conditions for Ukrainians and to create real opportunities for foreign investors," said Eugene Czolij, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. "The Ukrainian Canadian Congress applauds and supports such reforms."

Minister Tarasyuk was welcomed on June 11 with the traditional Ukrainian greeting of bread and salt at Winnipeg International Airport by a delegation from the UCC headed by Mr. Czolij. Minister Tarasyuk was accompanied by Dr. Yuri Shcherbak, Ukraine's ambassador to Canada, and members of the Ukrainian delegation.

Later that evening the UCC Executive hosted a private dinner for the foreign affairs minister. The event provided an opportunity for the Ukrainian delegation and the UCC Executive to exchange views on Canada-Ukraine relations and discuss topics of mutual interest, including agriculture, education and exchanges between the two countries.

The UCC president opened the dinner with a formal toast to the foreign affairs minister, congratulating Mr. Tarasyuk for his foreign policy initiatives in bringing Ukraine closer to the West. Minister Tarasyuk, in turn, toasted the UCC by praising its energetic and continuing efforts to advance Canada-Ukraine relations. The minister expressed optimism in the forward direction being undertaken by Ukraine's government since its last election, citing the fact that Ukraine's economic growth has exceeded 6 percent in the first quarter of 2000. The evening concluded with an exchange of gifts and wishes for successful meetings.

A breakfast meeting hosted by the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Canada Ukraine Business Initiative provided an opportunity to showcase the ongoing economic development of Ukraine to Canadian business. "CUBI/Chamber is to be commended for its hard work and effort in promoting investment in Ukraine," said Adrian Boyko, first vice-president and chair of the UCC Canadian Issues Committee. "As the CUBI/Chamber continues its work towards CUBI 2000 in Kyiv this fall, the UCC will continue to assist in any way possible in order to ensure its success," he added.

Mr. Tarasyuk also met with Manitoba Premier Gary Doer and Deputy Premier Jean Friesen. Messrs. Doer and Friesen, and their colleague, Rosann Wowchuk, minister of agriculture and food, joined Mr. Tarasyuk in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Taras Shevchenko Monument on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature.

This was followed later in the day with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Famine Monument with Councilor Harry Lazarenko at Winnipeg City Hall. During these solemn ceremonies, organized by the UCC, Minister Tarasyuk paid tribute to Taras Shevchenko and the victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933.

Sen. Gildas Molgat, hosting an official luncheon in honor of Minister Tarasyuk, announced that the government of Canada would contribute an additional $18 million to assist Ukraine in its commitment to close the fourth reactor of the Chornobyl nuclear power station. Minister Tarasyuk thanked the senator and emphasized the special relationship between Canada and Ukraine. He also took this opportunity to commend the work of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

The official program also included a meeting of Ukraine's minister of foreign affairs with Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

Minister Tarasyuk completed his stay in Winnipeg by attending a private meeting of the UCC Executive Committee chaired by Myroslava Pidhirnyj, second vice-president and chair of the UCC's Canada-Ukraine Relations Committee. During this meeting held at the UCC's Head Office, UCC President Czolij highlighted to Ukraine's foreign affairs minister, its ambassador to Canada and members of the Ukrainian delegation, the priority issues on the UCC's agenda.

"This meeting was very valuable," said Ms. Pidhirnyj. "It provided an opportunity for a good exchange of ideas."

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress on June 14 extended its deep appreciation to Minister Tarasyuk for his visit to the UCC headquarters. The visit completed two full days of activities for the foreign affairs minister in Winnipeg prior to his departure for Ottawa, where he was to meet with officials of the Canadian government and representatives of the private sector.

Summing up the minister's visit in Winnipeg, Mr. Czolij noted that "new opportunities have been created through this visit which build on the work of the past and allow us to strengthen the prospects of tomorrow."

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