December 04, 2013 - 11:18 AM
OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says Canada remains committed to long-term democratic development in Ukraine despite its recent tilt toward Russia and the violence that has spilled into its streets.
Canada will still send two dozen election monitors to the country's byelections scheduled for next month, following last year's contribution of a 500-member observer force.
Baird says Canada's commitment to help the Ukraine people achieve their democratic aspirations is deeply entrenched and will continue.
Baird was speaking to reporters from Kyiv, the Ukraine capital, where violent protests were taking place.
The minister was in the Ukrainian capital for a previously scheduled meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The protests began after President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned a major political and economic agreement with the EU to focus on Russia.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013