February 10, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“Canada is very pleased that our government’s interventions have paved the way for three Canadian doctors to participate in the international medical commission being established by the Government of Ukraine to independently assess the health of former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
“While this is a welcome development, we hope that outstanding issues can be resolved expeditiously to allow doctors access to Ms. Tymoshenko as soon as possible. Ms. Tymoshenko’s health, diagnosis and treatment should remain the primary focus of all involved.
“Canada remains concerned by the apparently arbitrary and politically biased nature of judicial proceedings against Ms. Tymoshenko and other individuals, which undermine the rule of law. We stand ready to work with Ukraine to help build a democratic, open and prosperous society.”
Minister Baird originally conveyed the government’s readiness to offer Ms. Tymoshenko independent medical assessment and support in a statement to the House of Commons in November 2011. Since then, Canada has led the international community in working with the Ukrainian government on this initiative. The Canadian doctors, who have asked that their names not be made public at this time, will arrive in Kyiv as early as this weekend.
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