Canada's foreign affairs minister hosts farewell luncheon for Furkalo (11/22/98)

Canada's foreign affairs minister hosts farewell luncheon for Furkalo

Ukrainian Canadian Congress

OTTAWA - Canada's minister of foreign affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, hosting a luncheon in the official foreign affairs dining room to honor the departing ambassador of Ukraine, Volodymyr Furkalo, reviewed relations between the two countries.

"We have seen real progress in our bilateral relations. You have Canada's and my gratitude for the important and sustained contributions you have made," said the minister.

Ambassador Furkalo, leaving for his new posting in Yugoslavia after a three-year stint in Ottawa noted, "Ukraine has had excellent relations with Canada. We have become partners in the U.N. and in peacekeeping in global trouble spots. Although we are nowhere near the trade figures that we would like to have, our trade has doubled in the last few years."

Oksana Bashuk Hepburn, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ottawa Branch, was seeking international support for the proposed Ukrainian World Congress "right to food resolution" before the United Nations. "I had the opportunity to raise this matter with two ambassadors here: Poland is on side [on board] and the Russian ambassador clearly stated that the famine genocide in Ukraine is a historical fact."

Eugene Czolij, the newly elected UCC national president, who arrived for the reception from Montreal, said, "We will be meeting with the minister in due course to discuss national and international issues. Minister Axworthy indicated his willingness to meet. We welcome that."

"We must explore more fully options for working with the Canadian government in pursuing our goals: the well-being of Ukrainian Canadians here in Canada and the building of good Canada-Ukraine relations," he added.

Ukraine's new ambassador to Canada, Volodymyr Khandohii, is expected in Ottawa later in November.

| Home Page |