Luncheon Hosted by the Prime Minister of Ukraine

Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thank you for such a warm welcome and for hosting this luncheon in honour of our State visit to Ukraine.

Prime Minister, these uncertain economic times are particularly difficult for your fellow citizens.

I want you to know that Canada is not indifferent to what our Ukrainian friends are going through, for they are a people with whom we have strong historic ties and productive partnerships.

As you are undoubtedly aware, Canada is home to the largest Ukrainian community in the world outside of Ukraine and Russia.

Women, men and youth who have played and continue to play a vital role in every sector of Canadian society.

We never forget that.

Our sincerest wish is that the current financial crisis will not serve to isolate nations from one another, but rather give rise to greater solidarity so that we might overcome the challenges of the day.

What is at stake, the way we see it, what is being tested is our ability to rethink the world in terms of what brings us together, rather than what separates us.

The time has come for us to look upon borders not as impassable barriers, but as places where we can come together.

It is with this hope that we will be entering into a dialogue with your fellow citizens, and we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to you for your efforts in this regard.   

I would like to raise my glass to the unbreakable friendship between Canada and Ukraine, and to our shared desire to build a better world for our peoples and for future generations.