Minister MacKay Visits Canadian Parliamentary Centre in Kyiv

On July 18, 2007, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Peter MacKay visited the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Centre at the National Parliamentary Library of Ukraine in Kyiv. The Centre was established by Canadian Friends of Ukraine to provide unique legislative and information support services for Ukraine’s parliamentarians. The event took place during Minister MacKay’s official three-day visit to Ukraine.

Welcoming the Minister at the National Parliamentary Library of Ukraine was the Acting Director General of the Library, Zoya Savina, as well as, representatives of Canadian Friends of Ukraine, Margareta Shpir and Lisa Shymko.

The Minister was joined by Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Abina Dann and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada, Ihor Ostash.

During his remarks, Minister MacKay congratulated Canadian Friends of Ukraine on their outstanding contribution to democracy building in Ukraine, as well as, their ongoing efforts to strengthen Canada-Ukraine relations. The Minister noted the valuable impact that the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Centre has made on Ukraine’s legislative process. “Your organization’s wonderful work is a true bridge between our countries and an example of how we can build a more democratic and peaceful world through cooperation,” he said.

Among the guests in attendance, were deputies from a cross-section of political parties, including Oleh Bilorus (Tymoshenko Bloc and Ukraine’s first Ambassador to the USA), Leonid Kozhara (Party of Regions, Former Ambassador to Sweden), Ivan Krulko (Narodnyj Rukh-Our Ukraine). Also in attendance was the Chairman of the Union of Military Officers of Ukraine, Colonel Vyacheslav Bilous.

The Minister’s visit to the Centre received extensive coverage by Ukraine’s print and television media.

Following the Minister’s visit to the Centre, Canadian Friends of Ukraine were invited to attend an exclusive roundtable with the Minister to discuss recent political developments in Ukraine. The forum also discussed issues such as NATO and WTO expansion.

Canadian Friends of Ukraine welcomed Minister MacKay’s announcement that Canada has allocated $16 million to promote democratic reform in Ukraine. The funding contributes to three projects: 

• Juvenile Justice Reform in Ukraine is a five-year, $6.5-million project that will strengthen the capacity of key government and non-government organizations responsible for juvenile justice to more effectively deliver legal, judicial and social services for youth at risk.
• Policy Reform and Implementation Support Mechanism (PRISM) is a six-year, $9.5-million project that will fund individual initiatives aimed at improving Ukraine’s governance through policy development and implementation. Programs funded will be in the areas of public administration, judicial policy and gender equality.
• The Canadian Election Observation Mission to Ukraine will provide up to 60 observers for parliamentary elections in September 2007. Through the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Canada is ready to provide $400,000 to support the mission.

Minister Mackay’s announcement highlights Canada’s continued support for democratic reform in Ukraine and monitoring of Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen democratic processes and democratic institutions.