Canada Taking Lead on Democracy in Ukraine

By Oksana Bashuk Hepburn -

Hill Times, October 31, 2011

Prime Minister Stephen Harper stepped forward and called upon Ukraine’s President, in a letter, to address the escalating crisis of confidence in that country’s progress toward democracy. It was a direct and resounding call for a reversal of the recent spate of ‘legal’ attacks against opposition leaders. Although the Prime Minister’s language was unequivocal - it warned of “potential negative impact” - the message was unmistakably from one friend to another one on the verge of losing his way.

The Prime Minister’s letter dealing with the conviction of Ukraine’s opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, is a serious response to a serious situation. Will Mr. Yanukovych be persuaded?

Canada’s friendship has been evident from the very first days of Ukraine’s independence where the vast Ukrainian Canadian community, which helped build Canada, has long cherished the hope of an independent and democratic Ukraine. Other Canadians have been party to that dream; its leaders have done much to support it. However, there is now a universal quandary among democratic nations: how best to deal with the crumbling pillars of Ukraine’s democracy?

The knee-jerk reaction is to impose sanctions on the guilty party or to close down the various ways in which support is being offered. History has shown that this approach is flawed; particularly when there are conditions such as exist today.

First of all, there are other world forces that are quite supportive of a deviation from a path to democracy and stand ready to assist in such a way as to mitigate against any negative effects of sanctions from Western countries. Secondly, there is, clearly, a major segment of Ukraine’s population striving against current actions of the government; seeking the same goal as those supported by Canada. They could be the first to suffer under a regime of sanctions or withdrawal of aid. Much is at stake here.

Canada has contributed more than $400-million in aid money to Ukraine since 1991; some 40 projects have been implemented or in progress. An additional $25-million was announced during the visit to deal with further clean up of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster and expanded youth exchange programs. It is crucial that Canada finds the public policy approach that will navigate the current difficulties and assist Ukraine to reach an international stature that will allow it to become a country comfortable in the full spectrum of its international relations. A democratic government is a sine qua non for this to mature. Admonishing Ukraine for the current situation is not the last step, it is the first.

Building upon the Prime Minister’s step and statements by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and others, Canada’s Parliament held a special debate on the erosion of Ukraine’s democracy. All parties participated. The good will was evident but there was a shortage of constructive steps to counter the developing situation. The nascent trade negotiations drew considerable attention. Indeed, they offer one opportunity to emphasize the critical conditions required to conclude a deal. Also, there was mention of refocusing aid on NGO and civic society development and greater emphasis on youth exchanges. Surprisingly, the restriction on visas - barring travel to Canada - and freezing of personal assets was not mentioned, yet punishes rogue politicians and judges rather than ordinary folk. As good as these ideas are, the reality is that brute force leadership trumps good, but powerless citizenry and the West must find a fresh approach to counter a nation’s lack of freedom, rule of law and abuse of human rights.

The events in Ukraine have huge implications. If the large space that was the former Soviet Union is allowed to replace its dictatorial regime with merely other bad governments, what hope is there for going forward? What does it mean for the Arab Spring? The helplessness of democracies at this point in time is untenable.

The big question is how to deal with dysfunctional regimes short of forceful interventions?

Ukraine provides a leadership opportunity for Canada to find a modus operandi with valuable lessons for the world community. The issue will require further consideration, like those heard in Parliament, at the international level. To this end, Canada might urgently sponsor a global round table of experts to generate a feasible way forward. One hesitates to put forward a process solution when substantive ones are so urgently needed. However, an important benefit of further deliberation would be to cast a light on the role Russia is playing in the region’s democratic backsliding, their present support of Ms. Tymoshenko, notwithstanding.

This is not the time to look for ways to punish Ukraine collectively. Now is time for Ukraine’s friends to call it the way they see it, target those responsible, and then to proceed with strategies designed to prove the unmistakable merits of democracy. If this is combined with concrete measures of non-patronizing support toward that goal, then democratic values will have trumped authoritarianism. And there will be many winners.

Oksana Bashuk Hepburn is a former senior policy adviser to the government of Canada and co-director of a CIDA how-Canada-governs program for Ukraine’s ministers and deputy ministers from the early years of Ukraine’s independence.