December 12, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today welcomed the announcement in Melbourne, Australia, by Tony Abbott, Australia’s Prime Minister and Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s President, that Australia would open an interim embassy co-located in the Canadian embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine.
"Canada and Australia share a historic friendship," said Baird. "We continue to be partners in the development of Ukraine and are working to support the Ukrainian people in realizing their democratic aspirations, free of Russian aggression and militarism.
"We are pleased that Canada can play a role in bringing the international community together to further support the Ukrainian people. This agreement is just another example of how Canada and Australia are collaborating in an effort to advance democratic principles and human rights around the world."
The memorandum of understanding on the co-location agreement is the latest example of the deep and collaborative relationship between Australia and Canada. It complements the already close working relationship of the two countries abroad, including in the provision of consular services. Canada and Australia have a consular services sharing agreement that allows Canadians to receive consular services from Australian officials in 20 countries where Canada does not have an office and for Australians to seek similar assistance from Canadian missions in 23 countries.
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