Last month, new Ambassador of Canada Roman Washchuk, of Ukrainian descent, arrived in Ukraine. A characteristic feature of the new head of the Canadian diplomatic mission is that he almost immediately started communicating with the press and giving comments. Usually ambassadors do it after presentation of credentials to the head of the state of the receiving party. Besides, Mr. Washchuk writes on his Twitter page himself. And of course, the speed with which the new ambassador replied to The Day’s request for an interview to comment on the terrorist attack, which took place on October 22 in Canada’s capital, is impressive.
“CANADA DOES NOT HAVE IMMUNITY AGAINST THE DISEASE OF TERRORISM WHICH IS SPREADING ACROSS THE WORLD”
Thank you for agreeing to give us an interview. We express our condolences on the loss of a soldier who was carrying ceremonial guard at the National War Memorial. Can you tell us about the conclusions the Canadian government drew after this attack?
“I will not try to comprehend the motivation of the person who committed this crime. It is obvious that this man made a stab at the symbols of Canadian statehood and memory by attacking the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”
I was at that memorial and the tomb almost a year ago, but I did not see any ceremonial guard then.
“Corporal Nathan Cirillo was a reservist from Hamilton and served in a regiment with Scottish traditions. The attack continued at the Parliament’s Center Block, where our main factions were convening at the time. But he failed to break both our system and spirit. I think that it is symbolic that the RCMP Sergeant (this is an ancient title) stopped the criminal attack, a person who literally performed his direct duty. These days Kevin Vickers truly became a hero for all Canadians. That is why on the one hand, we as a nation express sympathy for the family of the soldier from Hamilton, and also another soldier, Patrice Vincent from Quebec, who was killed in a hit-and-run two days earlier.
“All this indicates that Canada does not have immunity against the disease of terrorism, which is spreading in the world. And the popular reaction was revealed in Ottawa in particular, where people created hashtag #myottawa on Twitter and posted how they saw our capital and that despite this crime, the character of the city will not change, it cannot be changed. So, this is our firm resoluteness, we are ready to defend ourselves. Our prime minister and the government expressed these new ideas and anti-terrorism measures, which will soon be adopted. But we are not going to change the very nature of our society, or capital, and our country, because doing otherwise would be a sort of victory for such terrorists.”
“WE INTRODUCE ANTI-TERRORISM STRATEGY WHICH IS AIMED AT BETTER PREVENTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF TERRORIST ATTACKS”
On October 21, security threat level in your country was raised from low to medium, and the attack took place on the following day. Is this a coincidence or something else?
“I think that the obvious unrest in the ideological environment, from which these few criminals could emerge, has already indicated to our security forces that problems might appear. But I leave it to experts and authorized agencies to reveal the original reasons.”
I have already read that Prime Minister Harper announced the strengthening of the anti-terrorism legislation. What measures will be introduced after this attack?
“We are going to implement a law which would strip persons who have double citizenship and commit terrorist attacks or participate in armed clashes with Canadian Armed Forces of their Canadian citizenship.”
How will decisions be made? Through court?
“Yes, a procedure will be established. I do not know the details yet. At the same time, we are introducing an anti-terrorism strategy aimed at better prevention, identification of attacks, and, of course, response to terrorists’ actions. But this strategy will require more innovative legislative solutions. However, it is too early to discuss the details now.”
“NOT A SINGLE PARTNER STATE HAS SPOKEN AND ACTED WITH THAT MUCH DETERMINATION IN PROTECTION OF UKRAINE’S INTERESTS AS CANADA”
If we look at the general picture, when speaking from the UN rostrum, US President Barack Obama named three main threats for the world: the Ebola virus, the Islamic State, and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. From Canada’s point of view, does your country’s government consider two last threats to be the most important?
“Both are of extreme importance to us. As you know, perhaps, not a single partner state has spoken and acted with that much determination in protection of Ukraine’s interests as Canada. As you see, even the reception the president of Ukraine had in Ottawa is a sign of almost unanimous support by all parties, politicians, and the people of Canada. I think that not a single country can afford to have only one international priority. We have to simultaneously fight all the threatening powers that affect us. And the three that you mentioned undoubtedly are the most important for us now. I think that in the weeks and months to come we will see what new steps we are going to take in relation to our cooperation with Ukraine in defense, general partnership, promotion of reforms, and so on.”
That is, there is no such resistance in your government as in the US Administration when it comes to providing aid to Ukraine, including lethal weapons, which are necessary to counteract Russia’s aggression?
“If we talk about the defense sector, it does not necessarily imply lethal weapons. In this respect, we adhere to the idea of strengthening Ukraine’s defense sector with other methods.”
Can you give more detail on that?
“At the moment we have delegations that are negotiating with Ukrainian partners and look for the best solutions.”
HOW TO TEACH RUSSIA TO PLAY BY THE RULES
In general, what do you think the strategy of counteracting Russia’s aggression should be like? For example, Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite said at the EU Summit in Brussels that Russia must bear responsibility for its actions and life will teach it to adhere to the rules. Perhaps, something more is needed to influence Russia so it would play by the rules?
“You know, I think that first of all, things must be called by their proper names. It will be a good start. And respectively, such statements must be supported by specific economic sanctions and aid for Ukraine, so it could, firstly, get through the winter, and secondly, develop its defense structures to be able to withstand any external threats.”
It is known that at the Milan negotiations attended by the EU leaders and Poroshenko, Putin stated he was not interested in creating Transnistria in Ukraine and supported Donbas being a part of Ukraine. Meanwhile Lavrov, after Poroshenko’s statement about the agreement on establishment of Ukraine’s control over border checkpoints, said it was not going to happen. Should sanctions against Russia be toughened after this?
“Canada did not participate in these negotiations directly, therefore it is hard for me to speak about their consequences. In my view, it is too early to make any statements about it.”
What is there to wait for? Russia does not fulfill its obligations under the Minsk protocol.
“We should also wait for the development of the situation in Ukraine.”
“I DID NOT HAVE THE CHOICE OF WHETHER TO LEARN UKRAINIAN OR NOT”
Can you tell us something about your Ukrainian background?
“Yes, I was born in Toronto. My parents are post-war immigrants to Canada. They immigrated after the World War II from western Ukraine. This was not uncommon, considering the flow of migrants from Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts to Canada. My mother was born in Ternopil oblast. So, I did not have the choice of whether to learn Ukrainian or not. It is spoken at my home. And I have worked twice in Ukraine, in broader and narrower senses.”
You worked at the Embassy in Kyiv from 1994 to 1998, and what was the second job?
“Before that, I worked at the Embassy of Canada in Moscow from 1988 to 1991, when all the republics were under the jurisdiction of that Embassy. So, I got acquainted with certain practices back then.”
“FOREIGNERS IN UKRAINE SHOULD NOT TEACH ANYONE. UKRAINIANS HAVE ALREADY EDUCATED THEMSELVES, BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD”
Considering this experience of the late 1980s, the second half of the 1990s, and the recent events in our country, can you evaluate the general direction in which Ukraine is moving?
“I think that Ukraine’s movement towards Europe cannot be stopped. This is one point. The strongest impression now, after the 16 years I have not worked here, is that a truly new generation of people has grown up. I think that foreigners in Ukraine should not teach anyone. Ukrainians have already educated themselves, both at home and abroad. All you need now is to have professionals in right places.”
But perhaps, we still need your support in education of Ukrainians, especially in the student exchange program which was to be expanded earlier. What about this?
“We assist in this and do what we can. We have tripled the financing of our Ukraine-supporting programs for this year. But all this, even the sums that are being spent, are meager in comparison to what is happening in Ukraine and is invested by Ukrainians themselves in self-education, education abroad, and so on. And this is what inspires the most hope for me.”
“I LIKE STUDYING LANGUAGES AND COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE, AND NOT ONLY TALKING, BUT LISTENING TOO”
Taking your biography into consideration, it can be said that you are a true polyglot. You know English, French, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Serbian. How did you manage to learn that many languages? Would you share the secret with our readers?
“But on the other hand, I don’t know how to count (laughs). Each person can do some things and cannot do others. But others help me to count, so no worries about that. I just like this more, and it is easier for me to learn than other things. I like studying languages and communicating with people, and not only talking, but listening too. It is useful as well. I spent three years in the Balkans, a place with a multitude of cultural, linguistic, historical, religious nuances, and so on. Somehow I never stepped on any obvious landmines, I mean social and cultural ones. And after all of this I hope I will be likewise able to walk straight paths in Ukraine, and won’t have to duck and dodge.”
