UCC Appears before Foreign Affairs Committee

Ottawa (UCC) - October 20, 2011, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Jillian Stirk, ADM Europe and Mr. Leigh Sarty, Director, briefed Members of Parliament on the situation in Ukraine and to look at next steps.  Also appearing were Taras Zalusky, Executive Director of UCC, Lisa Shymko, Executive Director Canadian Friends of Ukraine, and Dr. Taras Kuzio, Senior Visiting Fellow, Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

The UCC reiterated its call for a multi-faceted approach in dealing with Ukraine including diplomatic intervention, adjusting the focus of CIDA’s activities, ensuring human rights provisions are included in the negotiation of any Canada Ukraine Free Trade Agreement and election observation.

“Given the political context in Ukraine, we strongly encourage Canada to ensure that the proposed Canada Ukraine Free Trade Agreement contain specific provisions guaranteeing human rights, rule of law and adherence to fundamental democratic principles as a condition to the conclusion of such an agreement.” stated Taras Zalusky.

The UCC brief also pointed to backsliding in the area of human rights and administration of justice. ‘Opposition leaders are being arrested, jailed and charged.  Politically motivated, selective justice is being meted out indiscriminately against opponents of the Yanukovych government.’

“There is growing and serious concern with the upcoming parliamentary elections.  How can they be declared free and fair if the leaders of two opposition parties, including the leader of the official opposition are not able to participate?” asked Zalusky.

The UCC brief recommended that greater emphasis be placed on longer-term election observation and on publicizing any anti-democratic machinations in the lead up to the vote as they occur.  It is crucial that Ukrainian citizens know that the world will be watching closely when upcoming elections are held.

The Committee’s hearing follows closely on the heels of the emergency debate which was held in Parliament in the evening of October 18.