From: Eugene Harasymiw
To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, December 31, 2000 11:50 AM
Subject: Putin visit to Canada

John Manley, MP
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Parliament of Canada
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6

Dear Mr. Minister:

Although the visit of Russian leader V. Putin has long ceased to be news, our organization has thoroughly been canvassing the news media since that time in search of all reactions to that visit made by your government. To our absolute horror, we have not found a single instance where the Prime Minister or yourself or any member of your government have brought up the Chechnya issue with Russia's leader.

If that is the case, please answer this question: does this silence mean that your government actually condones Russian oppression, colonialism and genocide? Are we to understand that the Canadian government does not take a stand against the Russian government committing mass murder, torture, concentration camp operation, rape, pillage, destruction of entire cities, and the planting of millions of land mines? Can you explain your government's unconscionable silence? Put another way, how do you rationalize your government's rigorous efforts (and millions of tax dollars) to "keep Canada from being a safe haven for 'war criminals' " who allegedly committed unspecified acts 55+ years ago, but you don't seem to be offended by Russian crimes against humanity, all of which have been adequately documented by international human rights organizations?

We demand an explanation.

Yours truly,

Eugene Harasymiw, LL.B.
President
Alberta Ukrainian Self-Reliance League
11024 - 82 Ave.
Edmonton, AB T6G 0T2
ph.and fax: (780) 457-5170