Jan 15, 2018   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Governor General of Canada to visit Ukraine and Latvia

OTTAWA, Jan. 15, 2018 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, will visit Ukraine and Latvia, from January 17 to 19, 2018.

During the visit, the Governor General will meet with the President of Ukraine and the President of Latvia. Supported by the Canadian missions in Kyiv and Riga, the Governor General will highlight opportunities for further collaboration to strengthen Canada's relationship with both countries.

In her role as Governor General and Commander-in-Chief, Her Excellency will visit Canadian troops in Ukraine serving under Operation UNIFIER and Canadian troops in Latvia serving under Operation REASSURANCE as part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence.

Her Excellency will be accompanied by General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff.

Quote
"Canada enjoys an excellent relationship with Ukraine and Latvia. We will continue to support these two countries by contributing to the ongoing stability of the region. The Governor General's visit will help further strengthen our political and commercial ties, and reaffirm our friendship."
--Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick facts

    --  This will be Governor General Julie Payette's first overseas visit as
        Commander-in-Chief to meet with Canadian troops.
    --  This will be the first visit by a Governor General in Latvia. The last
        Governor General to visit Ukraine was the Right Honourable Michaëlle
        Jean in 2009.
    --  Canada is unwavering in its support to Ukraine, both in helping to
        preserve and protect Ukraine's sovereignty and in providing assistance
        to Ukraine to implement key reforms.
    --  Operation UNIFIER is the Canadian Armed Forces training mission in
        Ukraine through which Canada provides military training and
        capacity-building assistance to Ukrainian Forces personnel in support of
        Ukraine's efforts to maintain sovereignty, security, and stability.
    --  The Canada-Ukraine Defence Cooperation Arrangement, signed in April
        2017, is a key part of Canada's multifaceted support for Ukrainian
        territorial integrity and sovereignty, security, and stability. This
        arrangement provides a framework for cooperation on important defence
        issues.
    --  Canada supports NATO's strengthened deterrence and defence posture in
        the Baltic region and NATO's enhanced Forward Presence, which includes
        the deployment of multinational battlegroups in Latvia, Estonia,
        Lithuania, and Poland.
    --  Canada leads NATO's multinational enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup
        Latvia, and contributes approximately 450 troops to the deployment as
        part of Operation REASSURANCE. Canada is proud to serve as the Framework
        Nation for the battlegroup and to serve with our Allies, Albania, Italy,
        Latvia, Poland, Slovenia, and Spain.

Associated links

    --  Canada - Ukraine relations
    --  Canada - Latvia relations
    --  Operation UNIFIER
    --  Operation REASSURANCE

This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office