UKRAINE’S AMBASSADOR IHOR OSTASH ANNOUNCED

ONE OF THE OTTAWA’S KEY DIPLOMATIC PLAYERS

January 28, 2009, the Embassy, Canada’s foreign policy newsweekly presented a look at Ottawa’s key diplomatic players, and the issues they’ll be pushing this session. Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Ihor Ostash is on the top ten rating list. There are 171 foreign representatives accredited in Ottawa.

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Diplomats to Watch This Session

by Jeff Davis

Published January 28, 2009

Both the downturn in the global economy and a major American foreign policy realignment are expected to have major implications for Canada's own foreign policy over the next few months. Behind the scenes, senior diplomats and heads of mission from a handful of countries will be at the centre of this change, with some seeing their countries' stock rocket upwards. Others could find themselves, and their countries, left in the cold.

Ihor Ostash, Ukrainian Ambassador

Ukraine is one of those countries with which relations have dramatically improved during the Harper years, not least because it is looking West in the face of Russian pressure. Ukraine is Canada's only development partner in Europe, and Canada has been a staunch and vocal supporter of Ukraine's ongoing bid to join NATO. Back in May, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko visited Ottawa and the government recognized the Holodomor, Ukraine's great famine of 1932-1933, as a genocide, much to the delight of the one million Canadians of Ukrainian descent. And it doesn't hurt that Ukrainian troops are active in Afghanistan. As the question of Ukraine's bid for admission into NATO heats up again later this year, expect to see Mr. Ostash making the rounds.

Media Contact

Olena Zakharova, Press secretary

Embassy of Ukraine in Canada

Tel.: 613-230-2961 ext. 105

press@ukremb.ca; http://www.ukremb.ca