Canada's U.N. Delegates Walk Out on Ahmadinejad
Foreign Minister Cannon Leaves as Iranian President Begins Speech
Sep 24, 2009
Orders for Canada's walkout came directly from the Prime Minister’s office. The boycott was in protest of Iran’s human rights record and began as soon as President Ahmadinejad began speaking to the United Nations (U.N.) general assembly.
Foreign Minister Cannon Issues Statement Explaining Canada’s Walkout
Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon issued a statement published on the nationalpost.com defending his decision to walk out on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s speech. The statement explains three reasons motivated the decision.
The first was Iran’s human rights record. The country has cracked down on the rights of its own citizens, and the rights of foreign nationals. He referred to the country’s recent elections as the most recent example of Iran’s poor record. The second was Ahmadinejad’s attitude toward the holocaust – he denies it ever happened, and often goes off on anti-Israel rants. The third reason according to Cannon is Iran’s refusal to give up its nuclear ambitions.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper skipped the United Nations Assembly meeting, and instead was at a Tim Hortons in Oakville. His absence didn’t prevent him from commenting on the walkout. In remarks published by cbc.ca, he called remarks made by the Iranian President on Israel repugnant: “President Ahmadinejad has said things about the state of Israel, the Jewish people, and the Holocaust that are absolutely repugnant.” His remarks continued saying Canada wanted to be clear about its stance on Iran.
France and Germany joined Canada in their walkout. Only low-level American diplomats heard the speech.
In his speech Ahamadinejad gave his assessment of the world, invoking religious imagery. According to the salem-news.com, he also criticized what he termed "the Zionist regime" saying it's on the road to ruin.
Sweden Stays to Hear Ahmadinejad, Gadhafi Speaks
Swedish delegation stayed to hear the entire speech. The reason according media reports was the speech didn’t meet conditions set out by the E.U. (European Union) for a boycott. According to spokespeople for the Swedish Foreign Ministry, the EU countries agreed if he began denying t he holocaust, or calling for Israel’s destruction they would walk out. Sweden currently occupies the rotating Presidency of the EU.
Earlier in the day Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi spoke to the General Assembly. Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon was conducting bilateral meetings, and didn’t attend that speech. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was supposed to speak at the Assembly, but has chosen instead to attend a G20 meeting in Pittsburgh. Cannon will speak in his place. The walkout is one of the strongest diplomatic gestures one country can make at the United Nations.
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