Ahmed Hussen at the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee

I call this meeting to order, colleagues.

I would now like to welcome our witnesses for the second hour of this hearing.

We have Dr. Elliot Tepper, distinguished senior fellow, Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.

We also have Laurence Deschamps-Laporte, professor of political science and scientific director at the the Montreal Centre for International Studies, Université de Montréal, by video conference.

We expect another witness, Khattar Abou Diab, political analyst and director at the Conseil Géopolitique Perspectives, to join us by video conference, but they're having some technical issues. We hope they'll be able to succeed in joining us.

Up to five minutes will be given for opening remarks, after which we'll proceed with rounds of questions from members of the committee.

I now invite Dr. Tepper to make an opening statement.