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Title: Canada closes embassy in Iran, expels Iranian diplomats (prior to military strike on Iran)
Source:
CBC News - Canada
URL Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/ ... baird-canada-iran-embassy.html
Published: Sep 7, 2012
Author: Laura Payton
Post Date: 2012-09-07 15:08:34 by Hondo68
Keywords: None
Views: 2756
Comments: 4
Canada has suspended diplomatic relations with Iran and is expelling Iranian diplomats from Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced in a statement today. Speaking to reporters in Russia, where he's attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-Operation summit, Baird said the government is formally listing Iran today as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act. That will theoretically allow Canadians affected by terrorism supported by the Iranian regime to sue. "Iran is among the world's worst violators of human rights. It shelters and materially supports terrorist groups," Baird said. "Unequivocally, we have no information about a military strike on Iran," he added. In the statement, Baird said Canada has closed its embassy in Iran, effective immediately, and declared personae non gratae all remaining Iranian diplomats in Canada. Those diplomats must leave within five days. All Canadian diplomats have already left Iran. "Canada’s position on the regime in Iran is well known. Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today," he said in the statement. The statement cited Iran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, its failure to comply with UN resolutions on its nuclear program, and its threats against Israel. It also makes reference to Iran's "blatant disregard" of the Vienna Convention that guarantees the protection of diplomatic personnel. Last November, Iranian students stormed the British Embassy in Tehran and ransacked its offices. Britain's foreign office summoned an Iranian diplomat in London, amid complaints that Iran failed to provide proper security to the embassy and didn't do enough in response to the attack. Iran hasn't had a full ambassador in Canada since 2007, following a breakdown in relations after Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi was tortured and killed in Iran in 2003. The Department of Foreign Affairs is asking Canadians in need of assistance in Iran to contact the embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Anyone who needs urgent assistance should call the department's emergency line at 613-996-8885 or send an email to sos@international.gc.ca. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement congratulating Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the move, calling it a courageous act of leadership. "The determination which Canada demonstrates is extremely important so that the Iranians understand that they cannot continue in their race to achieve nuclear weapons. This practical step must serve as an example to the international community [as regards to] moral standards and international responsibility," Netanyahu said. Former diplomat Ken Taylor, who served as Canada's ambassador in Tehran during the 1979 Iranian revolution, says having a presence on the ground in a country is important. If the country's government won't interact, he said, there's still intelligence to gather. "As a diplomat, I think you never give up. Of course, if it's a breach of diplomatic protocol, if in fact your diplomats are threatened, if in fact a country's conduct is not acceptable, this may proceed from persona non grata to the closing of the embassy," Taylor said. "Obviously, though, the Canadian government is sending a message. Whether or not this is the best means to send a message is of course up to the government's cabinet. "It's more than just a practical or technical severance of the relationship," he said. Pro-democracy activists in Canada renewed calls over the summer for the embassy in Ottawa to be closed. The calls were sparked by a news report that said Iran's cultural counsellor in Ottawa, Hamid Mohammadi, suggested Iranian expatriates should be nurtured to be of service to Iran. Baird issued a warning on July 13, saying the Iranian government has no right to interfere with Canadians who left Iran to build a better life. "Obviously we're concerned by some of the reports that we've heard," Baird said. "It is completely inconsistent with any diplomatic mission for the Iranian mission in Ottawa to interfere in the liberties that [Iranian-Canadians] enjoy in Canada. Any police organization will certainly take a look at any serious allegations that are raised in terms of their conduct. "And obviously my department will watch very closely and will be pleased to hear any representations on anything that the embassy has done that is inconsistent with their function as diplomats in Ottawa." One of the most prominent voices calling for the closure was Nazanin Afshin-Jam, a human rights activist and the wife of Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay. Afshin-Jam's father was imprisoned and tortured in Iran before the family fled, eventually ending up in Vancouver.
Poster Comment: It seems that Canada is planing a terrorist attack. Victims of Hillary & Obama's hateful anti-Semitic racism. So sad, they've all gone full neocon bushbot MitTard. Both wings of the D&R party are insane warmongers. A nuclear meltdown is imminent, where's the "Daisy" commercials from Gary Johnson and Virgil Goode? Baird says Iran viewed as world's 'most significant threat to global peace and security'
Netanyahu congratulates Canada
Activists called for embassy closure
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#1. To: hondo68 (#0)
(Edited)
Weeks prior to 911 I saw Castro in Iran on national news say they were going to bring America down on its knees ! hondo on his hands - knees daisy chain queer doesn't have a clue !
If you ... don't use exclamation points --- you should't be typeing ! Commas - semicolons - question marks are for girlie boys !
Herbie Bush's terrorist training camp. Ronnie declined to join the Bush terror cell, but poppy bush took over as prez. GHW Bush, Clinton, W Bush, Obama, ObamaMitt... an unbroken line of terrorists. You neocon traitors love the terrorists! Suicide nut jobs all of you! http://libertysflame.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=32050
Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
You remind me of the guy in the ring ... who's too stupid to find his corner --- run the wrong way too !
If you ... don't use exclamation points --- you should't be typeing ! Commas - semicolons - question marks are for girlie boys !
Of course you know that if President Obama ingages Iran, I'm done with him and his ilk. eom
It is not easy reconstructing 'molded minds'...
#2. To: BorisY (#1)
(Edited)
Front row, from left: Major Gen. Hamid Gul, director general of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI), Director of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Willian Webster; Deputy Director for Operations Clair George; an ISI colonel; and senior CIA official, Milt Bearden at a Mujahideen training camp in North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan in 1987. (source RAWA)
Ronald Reagan meets Afghan Mujahideen Commanders at the White House in 1985 (Reagan Archives)
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#3. To: hondo68 (#2)
#4. To: hondo68 (#0)
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