28 Mar 2024
Saturday 7 November 2015 - 18:15
Story Code : 187663

Canada’s new FM: Era of special relationship with Israel is over

Following Stéphane Dion’s first meeting of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new government, Canada’s new foreign minister announced that significant changes would be made in Canada’s approach to the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Dion assumed office on Wednesday. He's wasted no time, though, in making it clear that diplomacy under his watch would take a new direction.
Dion stressed that Canada will change its approach and will be an "honest broker" in the Middle East as it focuses on improving its relations with all "legitimate partners."

"Israel is a friend, it is an ally but for us to be an effective ally we need also to strengthen our relationship with the other legitimate partners in the region," Dion said.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening relations with Beirut that would "help Lebanon but also Israel."

"To be helpful, you need to strengthen your relationship with the other legitimate partners and that is what we will do," the foreign minister emphasized

"Israel understands that for Canada to be helpful, we need to strengthen our links with countries that are around Israel and should be part of the solution and not becoming completely dysfunctional as, unfortunately, Syria became."

Lebanon is governed by national coalition that includes Hezbollah, a Shiite group with close ties to Iran that's classified by both the US and Israel as a terrorist organization.
By Sputnik News
https://theiranproject.com/vdcai0n6e49nai1.tgk4.html
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Venkatasubramanian
Brave Canada FM. This decision will lead world peace. Thank you so much to FM.
Dr.Zakia Belhachmi
Finally, the government of Canada is listening to all its constituencies; especailly Arab Canadians looking for a balanced support and egalitarian treatment of all players in the the Middle East; especially thosed involved in the Palestine/Israel conflict in need for a TWO states solution: the only guarantor for peace and stability in the region since this solution is in alignment with the UN resolutions and the the UN Charter confirming the legality of the Palestinians right to self-determination as a nation!