Ukrainian Australian leader visits Ukraine to promote bilateral relations (02/03/02)

Ukrainian Australian leader visits Ukraine to promote bilateral relations

ESSENDON, Australia - The chairman of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations Stefan Romaniw, returned from a nine-day visit to Ukraine, where he had a series of meetings to promote Australia as a business, investment, tourist and migration destination. A further reason for the visit was to call on the Australian government to show a greater interest in Australian-Ukrainian relations.

The Ukrainian Australian community leader had over 30 meetings with political, business, community and departmental leaders during his trip, which lasted from November 28 to December 6. Among them was an official meeting with Verkhovna Rada Vice-Chairman Stephan Hawrysz. The meeting was attended also by National Deputy Pavlo Movchan.

During the one-hour meeting, issues of Ukrainian Australian relations were discussed. Mr. Hawrysz suggested that an official Parliamentary Group would visit Australia in 2002, and a formal letter to the Australian government was sent after the meeting to reflect this. Issues of business, investment, exchanges and support for the Australian Ukrainian community also were discussed.

"Today's Ukraine is a developing Ukraine. There are many positive aspects and attributes in Ukraine of 2001," Mr. Romaniw said after the meeting.

"It is developing economically at a faster rate than the U.S. or the U.K. Its strength is in its people. Government needs to recognize this and create the path for strong, transparent leadership focusing on the national needs and aspirations of the Ukrainian nation," he added.

"Today's Ukraine is made up of many ethnic minorities. The Australian multi-culturalism model is one Ukraine should look at closely," Mr Romaniw said. "All ethnic groups must have commitment to Ukraine and the national language being Ukrainian. Government policies encourage cultural and linguistic maintenance and in this environment all ethnic minorities should aspire to seeing Ukraine develop as a nation."

A Ukraine-Australia House (UAH) has been established in Kyiv. The center will be the hub for promotional activities that will showcase Australia. "This is a great initiative and again shows the support Australia has from many circles in Ukraine," Mr. Romaniw explained.

Mr. Movchan, chairman of the UAH board, and Halina Lemets, executive director, together with National Deputy Ihor Ostash and others are keen to strengthen links with Australia. At a dinner attended by Mr. Movchan, Ms. Lemets, Australia's Honorary Consul Dr. Serhi Berezovenko and representatives of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans for expanding UAH activities.

During Mr. Romaniw's meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Australian-Ukrainian relations and strategies were discussed.

An interesting concept that was raised and is now receiving consideration from the ministry is the link Australia could play for Ukraine in its alliances and economic policies in the Eurasia region. "There is no doubt that closer links between Australia and Ukraine can bring bilateral opportunities and benefits. This can be a win-win situation," Mr. Romaniw said.

Meetings with business leaders in Kyiv, Lviv and Ternopil have seen Australian-Ukrainian business links already a reality.

Mr. Romaniw engaged in a range of meetings with the Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry, representatives of a consortium of businesspeople, legal and cultural representatives, and academics.

He met also with the Lviv Oblast Administration and discussed the possibility of preparing and signing memoranda of understanding between Lviv and state departments in Australia to promote language and cultural exchanges.

"We sense the strong support for cooperation from Ukraine in developing sound government-to-government relations. We are entering a new era. Community organizations such as the AFUO can facilitate, but agreements, accords, memoranda of understanding which fix in concrete relations must be done on the government level," Mr Romaniw said.

Meetings with tourist operators resulted in the development of the concept of a youth tourist group from Australia visiting Ukraine under a program dubbed Following the Paths of My Forebears." The program will encourage young people to trek through Ukraine visiting important historical attractions and, most importantly, visiting the regions where their parents and grandparents lived. A proposal to commence a program of Ukrainians visiting major sporting events and business conventions in Australia also was discussed.

Mr. Romaniw gave a number of news conferences and appeared as a guest on national television's main morning program "1+1".

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations has written to the Australian government to call for an increased diplomatic presence in Ukraine. The organization underlined that business interests, cultural, education exchange programs, and strong valid migration programs can only develop with an increased Australian presence in Kyiv.

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