Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs to attend Independence Day military parade in Ukraine
News Release
August 23, 2017 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Matt DeCourcey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that he will attend the military parade on Ukraine’s Independence Day on Thursday, August 24, 2017, in Kyiv, to mark the 26th anniversary of the country’s independence.
Parliamentary Secretary DeCourcey will join members of the Canadian Armed Forces as they proudly march alongside Ukrainian servicemen and women, as well as military members from nine other countries, including several NATO allies—Estonia, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and the United States—as well as Georgia and Moldova.
Canada is steadfast in its support for Ukraine’s efforts to secure its future as a stable, democratic and prosperous country, which includes its ongoing defence reform efforts.
Quotes
“Canada is pleased to join our NATO allies and partners in celebrating Ukraine’s Independence Day on August 24. As the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine’s independence, Canada is unequivocal in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the sanctity of its borders and the protection of the rights of its people.”
- Matt DeCourcey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick Facts
-
Canada and Ukraine have enjoyed close bilateral relations since Canada became the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine’s independence, on December 2, 1991.
-
Canada and Ukraine’s people-to-people ties are strengthened by the almost 1.3-million-strong Ukrainian-Canadian community.
-
Since January 2014, Canada has committed more than $700 million in multi-faceted support to Ukraine, encompassing a broad range of financial, development, stabilization and security, non-lethal military and humanitarian assistance.
-
Since 2015, the Canadian Armed Forces have trained over 4,800 members of the Ukrainian armed forces as part of Operation UNIFIER, Canada’s military training mission in Ukraine.
-
The entry into force of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement on August 1, 2017, represents a notable milestone in the countries’ bilateral relationship, and will generate commercial benefits for Canadian and Ukrainian businesses alike.
-
Security cooperation between NATO and Ukraine is rooted in the 1997 Charter on a Distinctive Partnership and the NATO-Ukraine Commission.
Associated Links
Contacts
Contacts
Adam Austen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adam.Austen@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @CanadaFP
Like us on Facebook: Canada’s foreign policy - Global Affairs Canada