The solid basis of friendly relations between Ukraine and Canada was laid down as early as XIXth century when the first Ukrainians settled in Canada.

For the last two centuries "four waves" of Ukrainian immigration that found their new homeland on Canadian soil, along with representatives of other ethnic groups, have made significant contribution to the building of one of the most successful democracies in the world. Ukrainians have enriched cultural mosaic of the maple leave country with their unique colouring.

The work ethic, determination and perseverance have enabled our law-abiding compatriots to find a dignified place in the multicultural Canadian society.

From that time on one can easily spot a Ukrainian name among the members of provincial legislative assemblies as well as in the House of Commons, in headquarters of Canada-based transnational corporations, on jerseys of famous hockey players and among farmers in boundless wheat fields of Central and Western Canada.

A distinguished man of Ukrainian heritage, Ramon Hnatyshyn, had occupied the highest governmental post - the Governor General of Canada - for five years from 1990 to 1995.

It was not by chance that Canada was the first Western nation to give recognition to Ukraine's sovereignty on December 2, 1991, thus supporting the desire of many generations of Ukrainians to form their own state.

Soon after the recognition of Ukrainian independence on December 2, 1991 Canada established diplomatic relations with the youngUkrainian State (January 27, 1992). The Embassy of Canada in Ukraine was established in April, 1992 and in its turn Kyiv opened the Embassy in Ottawa in October the same year. The Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto was opened in March, 1993.

The development of Ukraine-Canada relations could be described as favourable and consistent. Willingness of the Sides to expand mutually beneficial cooperation resulted in signing the Joint Declaration on Special Partnership between Ukraine and Canada (March 31, 1994).

Eager to add to the Declaration a new meaning, based on the fulfillment of the provisions of existent document, and to adapt it to new realities the Sides came out with a new document. The Joint Declaration on Continuing Development of the Special Partnership between Ukraine and Canada was signed in Kyiv during the visit to Ukraine by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, John Manley (December 5, 2001).

The key element of both declarations is an intensified political dialogue that took the form of high level visits exchange. Quite symbolically, the first foreign trip by the newly-elected President Leonid Kuchma was to Canada in October 1994. In the course of his tour of the country the head of the Ukrainian State had signed a wide range of Agreements which consolidated the positive results achieved in Ukraine - Canada relations. In this context, of great importance was the signing of the Agreement on friendship and cooperation betweenUkraine in Canada on October 24, 1994.

Friendly character of bilateral relations is reflected in considerable financial, technical and organizational assistance that Canada has been provided to Ukraine.

Sharing the grief of Ukrainian people and acting in accordance with the highest principles of humanity inherent to Canadian society official Ottawa not only provides invaluable aid in eliminating the consequences of one of the bitterest page of humankind's history - Chornobyl nuclear disaster but has vigorously engaged G8 countries to help Ukraine to overcome the results of this misfortune.

Ukraine and Canada are working closely together on the international arena, promoting values common to mankind and sharing ways to solve the acute problems of global life. Both countries are cooperating on problems related to human development, environmental protection, infectious diseases and poverty. By making conflict resolutions by peaceful means a priority, and by promoting the rule of law over the use of force, both of our countries are actively engaged in the "hot spots" of the world in peacekeeping operations.

Having found many common points in the political sphere, both countries are actively developing the trade, economic, investment, technical and scientific cooperation. In 2002 Canada became the first of "the Great Four" trading nations to sign the Bilateral protocol on mutual access to the markets. This fact is not only important to further advancement of bilateral trade but for fulfilling Ukraine's strategic goal - its accession to the World Trade Organisation. Despite the rapid growth of trade activities, the current level of goods and services' turnover (110m CAD) is rather modest, thus urging Ukrainian and Canadian business circles to look for other forms of cooperation beyond the traditional trade in merchandise.

As an example of a successful scientific - industrial venture one can cite the joint project by the Ukrainian firm "Zoria - Mashproekt" and the Canadian concern "Magellan Aerospace" in creating in Canada - and the first in the world - commercial bio-fuel power generating facility. Another example of a business success story has been the decade-long activity of the company "Pharmascience-Ukraine," a branch of the well-known Canadian pharmaceutical company "Pharmascience." The mentioned Pharmascience -Ukraine has direct agreements for supply of medicines and vitamins to over 2,000 hospitals and pharmacies in Ukraine. Also, via its office in Kyiv the company exports its products to Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and other countries of the region.

Another effective way to deepen the Ukraine-Canada economic relations is bilateral cooperation on the provincial level, between Canada's provinces and Ukrainian oblasts (administrative districts), where both parties have common interests. In that context, of great importance was the visit to Ukraine in 2002 of the Team Alberta (mixed government-business delegation) led by Premier Ralph Klein. The signing of the Memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Administration of Ivano-Frankivsk and the Government of the Province of Alberta, during the visit to Edmonton in 2004 of the oblast's Governor Mykhailo Vyshyvaniuk, laid down a good basis for further development of interregional cooperation. The similar agreement on cooperation between Lviv oblast andAlberta is expected to be signed soon.

Appreciating the prospects for development of Ukraine-Canada relations, one must note that a myriad of human relations, similarities in culture and spiritual values, and common interest in developing political economic and scientific cooperation, give all the grounds to believe that the Special Partnership between Ukraine and Canada will further be amicable and constructive.

Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Canada

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

Embassy of Canada in Ukraine