Remarks by Hon. David Kilgour, M.P. Edmonton - Mill Woods – Beaumont

St. John’s Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium, Edmonton

December 12^th, 2004

Dear Friends,

Dabre Dem!

These are such golden weeks for Ukrainian democrats that anyone here tonight would love to talk about the events there at length.  Permit me, however, to use only about a moment of the five allotted minutes and then turn over the remainder - with the MC’s permission to Dyntro Jacuta, who has spent so much time in the Ukraine.

The only point I’d make is that what happens on December 26^th is of critical importance to Europe and the world.  Fifty million Ukrainians are at a tipping point.  If the new run off election is fairly run, the warm winds of democracy – including the rule of law, respect for human dignity, a vigorous attack on corruption in every quarter and on attracting job creating foreign investment – will stir.  If the election is again stolen by criminals, the people could fall into an abyss for decades.  It is no accident that Lukachenko of Belarus publicly criticized President Kuchma for not being tough enough on those people wearing orange.

Long live Ukrainian Democracy.

Long live Canada – Ukrainian friendship.

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