Thank you very much.
I have two questions.
Mr. Minister, in last November's Speech from the Throne, the government committed to creating a new democracy, a promotion agency, as below:
Canada's international assistance will continue to increase and will be spent more effectively in the promotion of development goals. A new, non-partisan democracy promotion agency will also be established to support the peaceful transition to democracy in repressive countries and help emerging democracies build strong institutions.
I am wondering what the status of this is now. Is it on hold, and what are you budgeting for it?
The Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton, in her opening statements to the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee, referred to a smart power approach in which diplomacy will be the vanguard of foreign policy. Professor Haslam, from the Ottawa University school of international affairs here in Ottawa, defines smart power as the idea that military power is not sufficient to address the world's most pressing global threats. He deploys a full range of economic, cultural, political, and intelligence assets in the foreign policy tool box, with diplomacy taking the lead.
As head of Canadian diplomacy, you know very well that there is no military solution in Afghanistan. President Obama recently requested the help of Iran in the search for a solution in Afghanistan, and Canada is seeking international support in its bid for a seat on the UN Security Council for 2011 and 2012. Mr. Minister, do you not think it is time for Canada to improve its international image by calling for and hosting an international diplomatic conference on the Afghan issue, including the participation of Russia, China and Iran?