BRAMA, April 30, 2003, 9:00 am ET
Press Release
Yushchenko reconfirms May visit to Canada
Kyiv, Ukraine, April 29 - One of the first world leaders to visit Canada since the World Health Organization travel advisory was released will be the former prime minister of Ukraine. Viktor Yushchenko, the leader of the largest party in Ukraine's Parliament and a front-runner to become President of the republic in next year's elections, today reconfirmed that he would visit Canada from May 10 to May 17.
Commenting on the World Health Organization advisory to avoid non-essential travel to Toronto, Mr. Yushchenko said he intended to proceed with the planned visit. "I have complete confidence in the Canadian public health system," he said.
Mr. Yushchenko and his colleague, Member of Parliament Oleh Rybachuk, will arrive in Toronto on May 10. They will meet with government and opposition leaders and business leaders in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, and will participate in events organized by members of Canada's million-strong Ukrainian community.
On Tuesday, May 13, Mr. Yushchenko will address the Empire Club in Toronto.
The purpose of the private working visit is to build relationships with Canadians. "Canada has a special place in our hearts," said Mr. Yushchenko.
"It is the adopted home of many of our people. It was the first western nation to recognize Ukraine when it regained its independence in 1991. And Canada continues to take an active interest in the development of our economy.
"We have much more in common than meets the eye, and, I believe, much to learn from one another."
Mr. Yushchenko, 49, was trained as an economist. From 1993 to 1999, as Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), one of Europe's newest central banks, he played a key role in establishing the underpinnings of a solid banking system in newly independent Ukraine. He oversaw the introduction in 1996 of the Hryvnia, Ukraine's national currency, and took steps that substantially mitigated the impact on Ukraine's economy of the 1998 Russian Ruble crash. He was recognized with the Global Finance Award as one of the world's top central bankers.
Mr. Yushchenko is best known within the international community for his record as Prime Minister of Ukraine. In 16 months in office (December 1999 - April 2001) he oversaw a series of key economic reforms that helped turn around Ukraine's then-struggling economy. As Prime Minister, he restored a significant measure of public trust in government by cementing fiscal discipline; paying off pension, wage and other social arrears; eliminating state subsidies; improving conditions for foreign and domestic investment; and implementing administrative, tax and land reforms.
In January 2002 Viktor Yushchenko united a broad range of democratic parties and groups to create "Our Ukraine," an electoral coalition that was the hands-down winner in Parliamentary elections that year. Our Ukraine garnered one quarter of all votes cast in party list voting, thereby forming the largest parliamentary faction with more than 100 MPs in the 450-seat legislature.
For further information: please contact: Brian Smith, tel. (416) 822-3130;
To reserve seats for the Empire Club luncheon on May 13, 2003, please call: (416) 364-878, or reserve online at www.empireclub.org.
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