Bill Graham

[Foreign Affairs, September 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this sad case has been raised in the House repeatedly. We deeply regret Ms. Kazemi's death.

It is tragic. She was a journalist who was doing her job. I made promises to her family and to the Canadian public. I am working with all our partners around the world to ensure that Iran protects journalists who go to that country.

We have a plan of action that is multilateral and bilateral, and we will follow it.

[Foreign Affairs, September 18th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Davenport, not only for his question but for the tremendous interest that he has in Europe and in making sure Canada is properly represented in the European Parliament. He has had a distinguished career.

I am glad he drew the House's attention to our opening of seven consulates in the United States because this is very important. We have also opened an embassy recently in Kabul, which is equally important for Canada.

We will look at the issue of Strasbourg. My department is, in fact, currently undertaking a full review of our representation abroad. I will be taking that to cabinet later this year.

I recognize the importance of Strasbourg but we must look at the way in which we are represented abroad to make sure that Canada and its interests are fully and properly represented in a global sense.

[Foreign Affairs, September 17th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows, as do other members of the House, we have been in regular contact with the government of Syria. In fact when our ambassador last visited Mr. Arar, he specifically said that our representations had aided his position, had helped him. He was very grateful for the fact that his position had improved there.

Obviously this is a matter of Mr. Arar being a Syrian national as well as a Canadian national. The Syrian authorities are saying they are going to press charges against him. We have taken the position that they must release him to Canada. We seek to get his release but obviously we must deal with the Syrian authorities in dealing with a Syrian national under Syrian law. We are using all efforts we can to make sure Mr. Arar is well and we get him out--

[Foreign Affairs, September 16th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the government did not cover for the Saudi regime. The government acted in a way which ensured the safety of Mr. Sampson in a very difficult situation. Mr. Sampson returned. He left Saudi Arabia. I remind members of the House that he had a sentence of execution against him. That sentence might have been carried out. We acted in a responsible way to ensure that it was not.

I think it is very unwise of hon. members opposite to now seek to rewrite history for the sake of pure cheap politics.

[Foreign Affairs, September 16th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, this has been discussed in the House many times.

The hon. House leader went to see Prince Abdullah. I personally took a letter from the Prime Minister of Canada to the ruling royal family. We made representations. Hon. members on this side of the House personally intervened. Members of the opposition saw Mr. Sampson. We all made an effort to make sure that Mr. Sampson came back safely. We were assured by the royal family that he would be returned safely if we worked with them. We did. We brought him home. Let us let the results speak for themselves.

[Foreign Affairs, September 16th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member speaks of soft power but let me suggest he has the idea to send the Saudi ambassador home, and perhaps have our ambassador return to Canada, when there are 8,000 Canadians living and working in Saudi Arabia who need diplomatic representation in times of difficulty. This is not soft power. This is useless power. This is political rhetoric for one purpose only, political rhetoric, that is all.

[Foreign Affairs, September 16th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we acted for the reason we did which was for our desire to get Mr. Sampson home safely, which is what occurred in the circumstances. Let us not lose that from perspective. The House and I believe everyone here well knows that doing the wrong thing at the wrong time in these circumstances could cost the life of a Canadian citizen.

It is very easy for the opposition now to wish to rewrite history. Let us bear in mind our responsibility on this side of the House and a government's responsibility is the protection first of the lives of its citizens. That is what governed our conduct and that will always govern our conduct.

[Foreign Affairs, September 15th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, last week I had the opportunity to meet with the Israeli Minister of Immigration and the ambassador in my office. We discussed this policy of the government of Israel. I indicated to him the position of the Canadian government, which is the same as that of the U.S. government and many others, namely that it is unwise at this time for the Israeli government, in the interests of security, to take steps that might not be in its long term interests, which depend on implementation of the road map for peace.

We are therefore asking our Israeli friends to exercise restraint in order to guarantee—

[Foreign Affairs, September 15th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, clearly we recognize that the United States of America determines who goes across its borders and who does not, as every sovereign country does. What we do is we tell our American friends on every occasion that those of us living in Canada are not involved in terrorism and we wish to work with Americans to establish moderate voices. I understand the people who went there were moderate people trying to establish links with moderate voices in the United States of America. We will continue to make sure the American government understands that from Canada we come as friends. That is the voice we have with the United States and we will continue to keep that tone.

[Foreign Affairs, September 15th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will remember the record and he can check with what I said to the press.

I consistently said to the hon. member and to members of the press that we would do nothing which would put Mr. Sampson's life at risk, and the hon. member would have. That was his choice. Our choice was the responsible one.