Israel and Canada are fortunate to share a wonderful relationship.
(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman met on Monday, 22 June, in Ottawa with his Canadian counterpart, Lawrence Cannon, and with other government ministers: Minister of Finance James Flaherty; Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities John Baird; Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney; and President of the Treasury Board Vic Toews.
The ministers discussed bilateral issues and noted the special, strong and stable relations between Israel and Canada that have existed since diplomatic relations were established sixty years ago.
FM Liberman said that Israel very much appreciates Canada's position on Israel and the situation in the Middle East in general and commented on FM Cannon's personal stance. He also noted Canada's firm stand against the "Durban II" conference in Switzerland.
The ministers also discussed globalization issues as well as the situation in the Middle East. FM Liberman commented that the whole world has a better understanding now of the nature of the Iranian regime. Events of the past few days, said the foreign minister, are the result of a mad regime that shoots its own citizens in the streets. The danger posed by nuclear weapons in the hands of such a regime should be obvious to everyone. FM Liberman added that, without interfering in the internal affairs of another state, recent events in Iran demand an unequivocal response from the international community, starting with the convening of an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council.FM Liberman's statement marking 60 years of Israel-Canada relations |
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FM Liberman expressed his appreciation of the long-term friendship, and emphasized the importance of the multi-faceted relationship.
FM Liberman emphasized the importance of the friendship between Israel and Canada after 60 years of diplomatic relations.
FM Liberman described the importance that Israel imparts to the special friendship with Canada, noting that not only was Canada one of the 33 countries who voted for the establishment of the state in the UN on 29 November 1947, but that the Canadian representative also played a central role in the passing of the resolution.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on 11 May 1949, the relationship has grown and flourished. The close relationship of the two democracies is multi-faceted, and includes political, economic, social, cultural, legal and academic relations. These relations are based on mutual support of the values of freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law. FM Liberman emphasized the role of the Jewish community in Canada in the preservation and strengthening of the relationship.
The diverse relationship between the two countries is currently expressed by the free-trade agreement, the joint industrial R&D fund, and bilateral cooperation in many fields, including agricultural research, water treatment, internal security, legal cooperation, relationships between universities and cultural exchanges.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the bilateral relationship, various events emphasizing the special relationship are planned to take place in both Israel and Canada during the forthcoming year. |