“Well, as you know the promotion of democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law is the cornerstone of Canada’s foreign policy,” he told Ukrainian News during an exclusive interview, Oct. 8.
“I think it’s fair to say that we share some concerns that have been expressed. I certainly will raise those. We had very strongly supported the independent democratic Ukraine. In fact, as you know, Canada was the first western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence, and we have been a consistent supporter of a democratic direction for Ukraine, of a Euro-Atlantic orientation for Ukraine, and of a strong friendship with Ukraine. So, these are certainly values that we will continue to promote in any of my dealings with the current administration in Ukraine or any future administration,” he added during the interview, which was conducted by Ukrainian News Editorial Assistant Serhiy Kostyuk at the Delta Edmonton South Hotel.
He declined to give specifics when asked what leverage Canada could use to induce Ukraine to adhere to democratic values as, no doubt, he does not want to tip his hand, and has to be diplomatic.
Nevertheless there are many inducements Canada can use. Currently negotiations are underway for a free trade agreement. Ukraine wants support for a Security Council bid. Ukraine wants more direct foreign investment. These could be used as incentives. We do not mean to suggest Canada should threaten Ukraine, but prod it in the right direction. Harper himself has left the door open by stating it’s too early to make a decision on backing Ukraine’s bid for a Security Council seat andf that a free trade agreement remains to be negotiated. Ukraine’s adherence to democratic values could make Canada more favourable to such initiatives.
Certainly, Harper will not be the first Western leader to give Yanukovych such a message. The recent erosion of media freedoms and democratic rights in Ukraine has been met with increasing expressions of concern from both the United States and members of the European Union. Oct. 13, in an interview with Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, former US Ambassador to Ukraine, was quite clear that there is a lot of concern in the West “with pressure on the media, the activities of the SBU — which appear to be in some ways relatively unconstrained -and I think there’s a lot of concern in the West about the decision by the Constitutional Court”, which on Oct. 1 reversed the 2004 changes which limited the powers of the Presidency.
Virtually all international bodies monitoring the lead-up to the Oct. 31 local and regional elections in Ukraine are concerned about this process which is creating an unlevel playing field for opposition parties. The largest group, the Yulia Tymoshenko bloc is not even on the ballot, while her lesser known party “Batkivshchyna” is being prevented from running in several key regions, while clones are set up to divert the votes. Some “Batkivshchyna” activists have even started a hunger strike to bring attention to electoral violations.
It is important for Canada and other Western countries to continue to engage Ukraine, not to isolate it. But it is also imperative to make it clear that if the current pressure on the media and opposition is unacceptable and if these first elections, held after Yanukovych came to power, mark a return to authoritarianism and one-party rule, Ukraine‘s chances of maintaining the good relations that it now enjoys with Canada and other Western nations, may become greatly diminished.
