PRIORITIES FOR CANADA-UKRAINE RELATIONS (ROADMAP) - NEWS

PRIORITIES FOR CANADA-UKRAINE RELATIONS (ROADMAP)
Print version

Published Tuesday, July 27 2010

Recalling that Canada was the first Western nation to recognize independent Ukraine on December 2, 1991, Canada and Ukraine underline the importance of their relationship as friends and reliable partners. Canada and Ukraine welcome the strong and dynamic interaction between their nations which are founded on special historical and cultural ties, enriched and fostered by the community in Canada of more than one million Canadians of Ukrainian heritage.

We further emphasize that cooperation between our two democracies is based on shared values and interests. These include expanding democracy and economic freedom, guaranteeing security and territorial integrity, strengthening the rule of law, protecting human rights and supporting innovation and technological advances.

Canada and Ukraine affirm the Special Partnership between them, expressed by joint declarations in 1994, 2001 and stress the mutual desire to deepen their relationship across the economic, political, humanitarian, cultural and security fields. This statement of priorities constitutes a road map reflecting the participants’ intentions with regard to the matters it addresses. This list of priorities is not exhaustive.

Principles of Cooperation

The friendship between the two countries stems from mutual understanding and the shared belief that democracy is the chief guarantor of security, prosperity and freedom, and that democracy must rest upon the rule of law and be supported by good governance.

Cooperation on defence and security is a cornerstone to respond effectively to challenges to peace and security.

Support for each other’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, including the right of every country to choose freely its own destiny in domestic and foreign policies, is a foundation of our bilateral relations.

Wide-ranging cooperation between Canada and Ukraine contributes to the prosperity, well-being and security of the Euro-Atlantic area.

Political dialogue

Canada and Ukraine wish to further advance and deepen their political dialogue
through high-level visits.

Canada and Ukraine will further productive cooperation within the UN, OSCE, the NATO-Ukraine Commission and other international organizations of which they are members.

Canada and Ukraine will deepen their dialogue through bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the Bilateral Political and Security Consultations between the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Canada and Ukraine realize the importance of expanding the Bilateral Political Consultations agenda to other areas and fields of cooperation for their mutual benefit.

Euro-Atlantic Security

Canada and Ukraine will further protect the common values of the Euro-Atlantic community, strengthen peace and security within the region and around the globe.

Ukraine greatly appreciates Canada’s continued support for its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Canada supports Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and will work with Ukraine and NATO allies to make these aspirations a reality. Canada and Ukraine welcome the reaffirmation by NATO Leaders at the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Canada and Ukraine look forward to close cooperation within the framework of the Annual National Programmes process.

Canada and Ukraine note the importance of effective implementation of Ukraine’s Annual National Programme as an important means to achieve membership in NATO.

Ukraine and Canada welcome the Declaration to complement the Charter on Distinctive Partnership between NATO and Ukraine signed on August 21 that reflects the central role of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in supervising the process set in hand in Bucharest, deepening political dialogue between NATO and Ukraine, and supporting Ukraine’s efforts to take forward its political, economic and defence–related reforms as it progresses towards NATO membership.

Ukraine expresses its strong commitment to conduct an effective public information campaign to raise awareness about NATO-Ukraine cooperation and NATO’s mandate, and looks forward to Canada’s assistance in that regard. Canada would welcome Ukraine’s increased public information efforts in this regard.

Canada and Ukraine will seek to further develop their cooperation in international peacekeeping operations. Canada welcomes Ukraine’s contributions to security and commends in particular Ukraine's deployment of its military personnel to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Security Cooperation

Canada and Ukraine share a vital interest in a strong, independent and democratic Ukraine. A sovereign and independent Ukraine, inviolable within its own borders, contributes importantly to regional and Euro-Atlantic security. Canada reiterates its unreserved support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Canada and Ukraine will further cooperate both bilaterally and multilaterally to counter international terrorism and its financing, as well as international organized crime, including human trafficking, piracy, trafficking in illicit arms and drugs, and corruption.

Canada and Ukraine will continue combating illicit proliferation of materials and technologies which can be used in creation of weapons of mass destruction, through adherence to international non-proliferation standards and effective enforcement and strengthening of export controls. With this aim they will also continue active cooperation within the framework of export control regimes and relevant
international fora.

Canada and Ukraine will continue their fruitful cooperation under the framework of the «G8 Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction» in order to provide tangible contributions to the prevention of the proliferation of weapons and materials of mass destruction. Ukraine appreciates Canada’s contribution to fund the installation of radiation-detection equipment at border crossings and airports in Ukraine.

Canada and Ukraine reiterate their commitments to continue to cooperate in addressing the consequences of the Chornobyl catastrophe, making the shelter site safe for the population and the environment.

Canada and Ukraine confirm their intention to cooperate in implementing current international agreements in the sphere of arms control. Both countries will seek opportunities to share information on related policies and practices.

Defence Cooperation

Canada and Ukraine confirm their intention to further the practice of military-political consultations.

Ukraine welcomes Canada’s engagement in taking advantage of facilities of the International Peacemaking and Safety Center at the Yavoriv ground firing range in Ukraine.

Ukraine values Canada’s enhanced involvement in reforming its Armed Forces, in particular through the Military Training Assistance Program (MTAP), and will welcome Canada’s engagement to ensure the functioning of the Multinational Staff Officers Training Center at the Ukrainian National Defence Academy.

Canada and Ukraine will continue to work towards an arrangement on cooperation in the field of transport aviation.

Economic, Trade, Development and Energy Cooperation

Canada and Ukraine intend to expand cooperation to enhance job creation and economic growth, support economic reform and liberalization, develop a business climate supportive of trade and investment and improve mutual market access for goods and services.

Canada and Ukraine pledge to strengthen bilateral cooperation to promote increased trade and investment volumes. Canada welcomed Ukraine’s Accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in May 2008 and will continue to work with Ukraine with a view to expanding access to markets and strengthening the multilateral trading system.

Canada and Ukraine note the success and will further promote the practice of bilateral Business Forums as a vehicle for expanding trade, investment, as well as science and technology cooperation opportunities.

Canada will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts to stimulate sustainable economic growth by providing technical assistance focused on improving entrepreneurship skills and the business enabling environment. To further foster a favourable environment for economic growth, Canada will provide Ukraine with technical assistance aimed at strengthening the rule of law and accountable public institutions.

Canada will provide Ukraine with technical assistance aimed at sustainable agriculture through food crop production and value chain support.

Canada and Ukraine confirm their interest in the further development of interregional cooperation and the strengthening of ties between Canadian provinces and territories and Ukrainian oblasts.

Canada and Ukraine will cooperate to promote a well functioning market-based energy sector in Ukraine. Areas for collaboration include the rehabilitation and modernization of the capacity of Ukraine’s gas transit and other infrastructure, and the diversification of Ukraine’s energy supply sources, through for example the use of Canadian nuclear technology.

Canada and Ukraine believe that the global challenge of climate change requires a truly global response and reiterate their support for a successful conclusion of the negotiations at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen of a post-2012 agreement with commitments by all major emitters of greenhouse gases.

People-to-People Contacts and Cultural Exchanges

Canada and Ukraine recognize the value of developing their bilateral relations in the consular sphere and facilitating people-to-people contacts.

Canada and Ukraine work to continue promoting interpersonal ties through bilateral cultural, educational and professional exchanges, particularly for youth. Canada and Ukraine will work to conclude a Youth Mobility arrangement.

Canada and Ukraine will further facilitate direct contacts between their private organizations, including NGOs and cultural organizations.

Canada welcomes the establishment of the Consulate-General of Ukraine in Edmonton (Alberta) as evidence of growing bilateral ties between their peoples.

Ukraine highly values Canada’s recognition of Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine as genocide. Canada and Ukraine will closely cooperate to promote remembrance and increase public awareness of the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) of 1932-33 including within the framework of international organizations.

Signed at New York on this _________________day of ___________________,2009, in duplicate, in the English, French, and Ukrainian languages, each version being equally valid.

For Canada:

Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs

For Ukraine:

Volodymyr Khandogiy
Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs

Date Modified: 2010-03-24