Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko held a joint meeting with Chair of Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group Robert Sopuck and members of the Group – Members of Parliament James Bezan, Ted Opitz, Ed Komarnicki and Stella Ambler.
28 January 2013 16:27
They had a sincere exchange of thoughts on a large scope of issues: starting from social and economic as well as political development of Ukraine and its foreign policy priorities, and going to perspectives of Ukraine-Canada bilateral relations.
Ambassador highly appreciated Canada’s practical assistance to Ukraine through the programs of the Canadian International Development Agency that are aimed at helping small and medium businesses, reforming public sector, judicial power, local governance etc. While discussing democratic development of Ukraine, he called Members of Parliament for advocating the beginning of interaction between Ukrainian and Canadian experts with the purpose to improve Ukrainian electoral process.
Counterparts have agreed that the trade between Ukraine and Canada which stands at several hundred million dollars is not in line with the potential of the two economies. It was expressed with confidence that the future Ukraine-Canada Free Trade Agreement will promote Ukrainian and Canadian businesses.
Ambassador raised the issue of liberalization of visa regime between the two countries, having expressed the hope for reciprocal steps from Canada in response to unilateral elimination of Ukrainian visas for Canadians back in 2005.
Ambassador and Members of Parliament greeted the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Canada within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos (Switzerland). Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko informed Members of Parliament about the main priorities of Ukrainian Chairmanship in the OSCE in 2013.
He also expressed readiness to actively promote contacts building between Ukrainian and Canadian Members of Parliaments.
