Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has vowed to raise the human rights issue with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych during his visit to Ukraine on Oct. 25.
“Well, as you know the promotion of democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law is the cornerstone of Canada’s foreign policy,” he told Ukrainian News during an exclusive Oct. 8 interview.
“I think it’s fair to say that we share some concerns that have been expressed. We had very strongly supported independent democratic Ukraine. In fact, as you know, Canada was the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence, and we have been a consistent supporter of a democratic direction for Ukraine, of a Euro-Atlantic orientation for Ukraine, and of a strong friendship with Ukraine,” Harper added during the interview, which was conducted by Ukrainian News Editorial Assistant Serhiy Kostyuk at the Delta Edmonton South Hotel.
Harper said “there’s a great deal of kinship between ourselves and Ukraine, and President [Viktor] Yanukovych is very interested in developing a relationship with Canada, and certainly Canada will use all the influence we can to encourage Ukraine in the independent, free and democratic direction that it has been on since 1991.”
Harper was also asked about several other issues of interest to Canada’s Ukrainian community.
On the question of visa restrictions, and the difficulty of obtaining visas, he noted that Canada has certain benchmarks with regard to security and immigration control measures, but “if a country can go below those benchmarks, we will lift visas, regardless of what the other country’s policy is. I certainly would hope that we can continue to make progress to the point where we can meet those benchmarks and eventually lift the visas, but that is not something we are in a position to do at the moment.”
Asked about federal funding for a new building for the Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museums of Alberta, Harper replied that “no detailed business case has ever been submitted to for the project. So it is not on the current roster of projects currently under discussion between infrastructure Canada and the Government of Alberta, but we would encourage the proponents to forward the information that has been requested.”
The following is a full transcript of the interview by Serhiy Kostyuk of Ukrainian News with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
SERHIY KOSTYUK, UKRAINIAN NEWS: Dear prime minister, two weeks ago you met with Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych in New York. Is Canada going to support Ukraine’s application for a seat of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2016-17?
PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER: That has not been decided yet.
SK: Both the United States and the European Union made it clear that Ukraine’s new government’s record in the area of freedom of speech does not correspond to that in democratic states. Do you plan to raise the issue of human rights with Yanukovych during your visit to Ukraine?
SH: Well, as you know the promotion of democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law is the cornerstone of Canada’s foreign policy. I think it’s fair to say that we share some concerns that have been expressed. I certainly will raise those. We had very strongly supported independent democratic Ukraine. In fact, as you know, Canada was the first western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence, and we have been a consistent supporter of a democratic direction for Ukraine, of a Euro-Atlantic orientation for Ukraine, and of a strong friendship with Ukraine. So, these are certainly values that we will continue to promote in any of my dealings with the current administration in Ukraine or any future administration.
SK: What leverage can Canada use to help induce Ukraine to adhere to democratic values?
SH: Well, as I say, we view Ukraine as a country with whom we have a great deal in common. Ukraine, as you know, is a relatively northern country. It’s a country that lives alongside a much bigger neighbor. It a country with whom we share a million people of common ancestry. So I think there’s a great deal of kinship between ourselves and Ukraine, and Yanukovych is very interested in developing a relationship with Canada, and certainly Canada will use all the influence we can to encourage Ukraine in the independent, free and democratic direction that it has been on since 1991.
SK: Are you going to meet with leaders of the Ukrainian opposition?
SH: When I am in Ukraine, not all decisions have yet been made on our tour and exactly where we are doing and exactly who we are meeting and what sites we will visit.
SK: Ukraine cancelled its visa requirement for Canadian citizens in 2005 and is constantly asking for visa liberalization policy with Canada. Meanwhile, Ukrainians applying for visas and Canadians dealing with immigration matters and adoption are often turned down at the Canadian Consulate in Kyiv due to shortage of staff and finance. How can the situation be rectified?
SH: I thought you would raise this issue. You should first of all understand – and we have to say this to many countries in the world – whether Canada has a visa policy or not with regards to another country has nothing to do with reciprocity. It is not a consideration in our case whether the other country has visa-free travel. The only considerations are certain Canadian benchmarks with regard to security and with regard to certain immigration control measures. If we think a certain country presents certain risks based on our experience with travel and immigration between the two countries we maintain a visa policy. And if a country can go below those benchmarks, we will lift visas, regardless of what the other country’s policy is.
SK: At what stage is the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement?
SH: Not of an agreement, but certainly, as you know, Ukraine and Canada have committed to free trade negotiations and to concluding such an Agreement. This is a high priority for both the president and myself.
SK: Do you see any opportunities for Canadian businesses to be involved in Euro 2012 football championships in Ukraine?
SH: Well, you should know, first of all, I should just mention this: although I would not describe Canada as a soccer nation, I am a soccer fan myself, and I do follow the sport a little bit. Look, Canadian companies are always looking for opportunities to contribute to projects around the world. I think, frankly, when it comes to a major soccer tournament, we are in for tough competition there, there, because there are lots of other countries who tend to specialize in that particular sport.
Serhiy Kostyuk works for Ukrainian News, an independent bi-weekly newspaper based in Edmonton and distributed across Canada.
