Mr. Speaker, Canada is maintaining compliance of course as ever with the Vienna conventions. In keeping with diplomatic practices, Canada continues to diplomatically recognize a state and not the government. As such, we continue to have diplomatic relations with the state of Iraq. When a new Iraqi government is established, it will be up to it to determine if Iraqi diplomats serving abroad and the embassies in which they serve will be continued or withdrawn.
In the House of Commons on April 11th, 2003. See this statement in context.