Canadian foreign minister pledges support for Ukraine's entry into WTO (12/16/01)

Canadian foreign minister pledges support for Ukraine's entry into WTO

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs John Manley said on December 5 that Ukraine and Russia should move towards World Trade Organization membership together.

Speaking in Kyiv, where he was on a one-day visit, the foreign minister noted that trade relations between the two countries are intertwined to the extent that Ukraine's membership could not be considered after Russia's.

"It is important that Ukraine not be left behind in this process," explained Mr. Manley.

He added that Canada would continue to support Ukraine's entry into the WTO and said he believes membership will be granted after more negotiations and continued economic reform in Ukraine.

Mr. Manley was in Ukraine to commemorate 10 years since Canada recognized the fledgling Ukrainian state on January 27, 1992. Ottawa became the first Western government to grant formal recognition to independent Ukraine.

He and Ukraine's minister of foreign affairs, Anatolii Zlenko, signed a declaration on a special partnership - renewing what both described as 10 years of close cooperation.

"We've jointly come to the conclusion that the year 2002, the 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Canada, will mark a new stage in the further development of special relations," explained Mr. Zlenko, who emphasized the close cultural relations between the two countries as a result of a large Ukrainian ethnic population that has existed in Canada for much of its 125 years of independence.

The Ukrainian foreign affairs minister also noted that Canada will soon take the reigns of the Group of Seven industrialized nations and that Kyiv's hope is that its chairmanship would allow for Ukraine to "be at the forefront in relations with the group as well."

The two sides discussed a variety of topics, including the global fight against terrorism. From all indications, however, economic and trade matters were the focus and the center of that focus, was Ukraine's membership in WTO.

Mr. Zlenko said Kyiv realizes it must fulfill more conditions before its application could be seriously considered, among them the passage of nine draft laws lingering in the Verkhovna Rada. He explained that the hope is that Ukraine will meet all requirements and receive membership by the end of 2002.

Before leaving Kyiv, Mr. Manley made a presentation to students at the Diplomatic Academy of the Institute for International Relations and met briefly with President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh. Afterwards he and Mr. Zlenko flew to Brussels, where they will take part in a general session of the North Atlantic Council and a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission.

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