President Yanukovych Holds Phone Talks with PM Stephen Harper

On March 11, 2010, the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, had a phone conversation with the Prime Minister of Canada, The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper.

During the conversation, President Yanukovych said that Canada has always been a true friend and reliable partner of Ukraine. He assured Prime Minister Harper that further development of the special partnership with Canada is one of the priorities of Ukraine’s foreign policy.

President Yanukovych stressed that Ukraine is interested in further development of personal relations and cultural ties between our countries as they are united by more than a million Ukrainian Canadians.

Viktor Yanukovych congratulated Stephen Harper on the brilliant results of Canadian athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympics, especially the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team, which won the Olympic tournament finals.

The President said he would make himself available for the opportunity to meet with the head of the Canadian Government, particularly within the framework of international multilateral meetings. He also invited the Prime Minister of Canada to visit Ukraine at any time he considers to be suitable.

On his part, Stephen Harper thanked Viktor Yanukovych for the invitation to visit Ukraine and stressed that such a meeting is worth being held as soon as possible.

The Canadian PM stated that Ukraine and Canada have long established friendly and stable relations, along both trade-economic lines and between people. Stephen Harper emphasised the conviction that these relations will continue to develop further.