Liberman meets with Canadian ministers in Ottowa

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.