Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Latulippe, for appearing before us.
I would echo what my colleagues have said; you have certainly stepped into a tempest. But I really believe you have the qualifications to straighten this out and to once again restore what we've come to expect.
Had you been here last Tuesday and watched the proceedings, it got pretty hot. I think it's probably safe to say that both witnesses were pretty steamed, especially toward the end.
It was interesting; as we listened and tried to uncover this, there was a theme that seemed to keep coming up, over and over. I think Mr. Abbott really hit the nail on the head when he said this is all about Israel. Mr. Allmand replied--the time was up, but it's on the blues--and he said yes. I thought how unfortunate; we had the opportunity....
I sense that you're very passionate about exporting our values and democracy. I'm the same way. Probably most people here feel the same way. When we get the opportunity, for instance, to visit another country, especially those countries that are struggling democracies, we make every effort to encourage them.
I had that opportunity in February. I went to Turkey. Looking at a country like Turkey, what a golden opportunity we have to take a stable democracy that's still fledgling and has some issues and to influence that region where we have seen so much turmoil. I'm puzzled when I see that opportunity missed.
I wonder, sir, do you share that? Do you have any ideas or possible plans for that region and maybe working to possibly solve some of those problems we have been struggling with for generations?