Ukraine is planning to open its consulate general in Canada's Edmonton in June 2008, Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko said during his meeting with Ukrainian community of Toronto during his state visit to Canada.
Addressing the meeting, the head of state emphasized that Ukraine is trying to extend contacts and cooperation with representatives of Canada's Ukrainian diaspora. Particularly, this is also possible due to implementation of a number of cultural and humanitarian projects.
Viktor Yushchenko paid a special attention in this context to the 75th anniversary of the 1932 - 1933 Great Famine (Holodomor) in Ukraine to be marked in November 2008. In the President's words, within the framework of this date, it is planned, particularly, to hold a film festival, for whose preparation he invited Ukraine diaspora.
The President drew attention to the importance of providing Ukrainian schools, libraries, television centers, military units in every place where Ukrainians live, materials devoted to Holodomor. Apart from this, Ukraine is awaiting from the Ukrainian community of Canada formation by November of a register of witnesses and victims of Holodomor, and its delivery to Ukraine.
Touching on humanitarian projects, on which Ukraine and Ukrainian community of Canada may cooperate, the President called the opportunity for drawing young Canadian Ukrainians into work as supervisors at the Artek international children's camp, where particularly the Let us Change the World for the Better international festival will take place this summer.
At the end of the meeting, the President handed in state rewards to representatives of Canada's Ukrainian community.
