Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The honourable member I think puts a very important question before us. Indeed it's a complex issue. I would say that certainly there have been demonstrations associated with both the Tymoshenko trial and the overall situation in Ukraine--the loss of freedom, the continued abuse of human rights, the loss of press freedom, and so on. So there certainly are groups in Ukraine who continue to speak out, to question, who are trying to bring change to the country.
I think there is also a strong desire on the part of many Ukrainians for closer ties with the west. We see that in terms of their engagement with Canada. The pursuit of a free trade agreement and an association agreement with the EU is of course very much directed towards binding Ukraine to the western community of nations.
I would say there are conflicting forces at work in Ukraine. On the one hand, you see pressure on the judicial system. You see erosion of freedom and human rights and respect for the rule of law. One the other hand, I think there are important forces in Ukraine and many Ukrainians who seek a better future and are very much committed to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. I think they certainly look to countries like Canada for support in their efforts, seeking that brighter future.
That, of course, is one of the reasons why the government has been so active in delivering these kinds of messages, both publicly and privately, either during the Prime Minister's visit or in recent ministerial statements and so on. These are all I think an important element in supporting those democratic forces.