In Canada, it’s cool to be a Ukrainian
The Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Ihor Ostash made the abovementioned statement at his briefing in Lviv. Canada’s previous census showed that a million Ukrainians are living in the country, while the most recent one already showed 1.213 million. The diplomat linked this to the fact that Canadians have begun to recognize their Ukrainian origin, to explore their roots. “This is due to several factors. The Ukrainian state is climbing to its feet, there may be some impetus from the Orange Revolution, too, so a lot of people have learned about Ukraine. The number of Ukrainian Canadians grows and I am sure that the next census will show even more growth,” the diplomat was quoted as saying by www.obozrevatel.com.ua, citing Zaxid.net. “Next year we will mark the 120th anniversary of the first Ukrainian settlement to Canada, and our task is to celebrate it on the highest state level in Ukraine and Canada alike,” said the ambassador. According to his words, the Embassy of Ukraine plans to hold an action entitled “Day of Ukraine in the Parliament of Canada.” “All The Day we will present Ukraine in the most prestigious historic building in Canada. There will be exhibitions, concerts, grand stage events, political and social contacts,” Mr. Ostash told the press.
NATO talks in Moscow
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced on the eve of the Russia-NATO summit that he will hold talks in Moscow on cooperation in Afghanistan, missile defense, countering terrorism and piracy. He will arrive to Moscow on November 5, after meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron, reports Reuters. According to NATO spokesman James Appathurai, during the negotiations both sides will discuss a wide range of issues, including the possibility of supplying NATO troops in Afghanistan through Russian territory, and the purchase of 21 Russian helicopters for Afghan forces with pilots being trained by Russians too. In addition, the delegation intends to discuss the possibility of increasing the number of Afghan drug law enforcement officers undergoing training in Russia. For its part, Russia is seeking a NATO ban on the deployment of “substantial combat forces” in former Eastern Bloc countries and guarantees that the missile defence system in Europe will be limited to small and medium-range assets. According to the media, the draft agreement “On the basis of relations between Russia and NATO” was conveyed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Mr. Rasmussen in December last year, but by mutual agreement the parties did not disclose that fact.
Baku and Yerevan to exchange prisoners
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to exchange prisoners that were captured during the armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. An agreement was reached during the meeting in Astrakhan, which was chaired by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan met (with Mr. Medvedev as mediator) for the first time since the deterioration of relations accompanied by skirmishes on the demarcation line in Karabakh. The total number of prisoners referred to in the agreement was small, less than ten on each side, but, as the Kremlin’s press service stated, “the quantity means far less than the fact that the people had managed to agree”. The statement adopted by Aliyev and Sargsyan “creates a sense of cautious optimism,” Interfax quoted the deputy head of defense and security committee in the parliament of Azerbaijan Aydin Mirzazade as saying. “Anyhow, I would like to believe that Armenia will use the chance given to it,” said the parliamentarian. In its turn, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry called the meeting in Astrakhan “useful and important.”
