UCC officers and foreign minister discuss Canada-Ukraine relations
by Lydia Shawarsky
OTTAWA - Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Eugene Czolii and Canada-Ukraine Relations Committee Chair Myroslava Pidhirnyj met on March 24 with John Manley, Canada's minister of foreign affairs, to discuss Canada-Ukraine relations and the situation in Ukraine.
"As the first Western country to recognize the independence of Ukraine in 1991, Canada needs to reaffirm its special relationship with Ukraine and to continue supporting those programs and projects which develop and foster the principles of a democratic society," Mr. Czolij said.
He added that Canada must work closely and actively with Ukraine in ensuring that human rights and fundamental freedoms of a democratic society are always fully respected in Ukraine.
The UCC advised Minister Manley that Canada should expand its high-level contacts to reassure the people of Ukraine that a stable and democratic county will continue to garner support from Canada and other Western nations.
Nearly 10 years after the break-up of the Soviet Union, Ukraine sits precariously between integration with Europe or Russia. It is in Canada's best interests to play a leading role in ensuring that Ukraine integrates further with Western democracies. Consequently, it is highly important that Canada resist taking that which would have the potential of isolating Ukraine and thereby reverting to a bipolar world, the UCC representatives underscored.
The UCC also called upon the government of Canada to provide humanitarian assistance to the victims of the recent severe floods in the Zakarpattia region of Ukraine.
The UCC expressed its appreciation to Minister Manley for the opportunity to share with him the views of the Ukrainian Canadian community on these important issues. "We look forward to meeting with the minister on a regular basis to continue strengthening Canada-Ukraine relations," said Mr. Czolij.
The March 24 meeting had added significance because it preceded the visit to Canada by Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Anatolii Zlenko.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 15, 2001, No. 15, Vol. LXIX
| Home Page |