Foreign Affairs committee  It's a very good topic. On the topic of energy, a lot of things are involved in Ukraine and Europe. Those who control the pipeline control a lot of things in Europe. So on the important shale gas projects, there are clearly some environmental and other concerns. I will not get in

Foreign Affairs committee  Your question is topical and complex. When we talk about Russia, I would like to make a distinction. We don't want to associate Russia as a whole with the regime in power today. In the Wednesday hearings you will hear Dr. Andrey Piontkovsky, one of the leaders of the Russian op

Foreign Affairs committee  It's a very good question, ma'am, and there are many cases where I wish I could still vote. It's not the case. While Canada does allow for dual citizenship, Ukraine does not. Therefore, once you become a Canadian citizen, you abolish your right to vote in Ukraine. Mind you, a s

Foreign Affairs committee  I disagree, actually. Probably for the first time I disagree with Mr. Rybachuk. The mission is possible. Anything is possible. I believe one way—it's a sad word—is engagement. First of all, let President Yanukovych and his entourage know bluntly and clearly that the world is wat

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Madam, for your question. I would happily answer your question, but I believe the other three gentlemen and lady we have here at the table are probably more qualified. They're coming straight form Ukraine. They're involved in depth in civic societies in Ukraine. I beli

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for your question, sir. It's very topical, clearly. Ukraine and Russia being interconnected for centuries, for some good and some not so good periods. In terms of Mr. Putin, we will never know all the details about what goes on behind the scenes. After all, he comes f

Foreign Affairs committee  Exactly. The last part of your question is on how far he would go. Obviously, I don't have a crystal ball, but if you look at the example of Georgia—how quickly he started the war, which escalated beyond proportion, notwithstanding the statements from the west and NATO and so o

Foreign Affairs committee  Is that question to me, Mr. Dechert?

Foreign Affairs committee  First of all, as you know, the Canadian government and Canada went out of their way to provide doctors to examine Ms. Tymoshenko. From what I understand, they were not very well received by the Ukrainian government. Their credibility, I suppose, was questioned and they were not a

Foreign Affairs committee  I believe so. I believe that the reaction.... The word here is “engagement”. I know it's very challenging. It's not easy for democratic governments in the west to talk to the current government of Yanukovych. I believe the word is “engagement”, engaging the government and telling

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for your question. Certainly it's not an easy question to answer. The opportunities for Ukraine during the Orange Revolution and even prior—after the collapse of the U.S.S.R.—were great. The reason why perhaps it didn't materialize is twofold. I think we should admit,

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It is an honour for me, as it is for the League of Ukrainian Canadians, for which I chair the committee on external relations, to appear before this august body and to respectfully share with the distinguished memb