Bill Graham

[Iraq, March 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly why from the very beginning we were very strong supporters of the efforts of the United States to deal with the disarmament of Saddam Hussein through resolution 1441, why we have always taken the point of view that the best way to approach this type of issue is through a multilateral coalition which will enable us to deal effectively with it and why we strongly support the idea of international criminal sanctions which can be applied by appropriate international means to ensure that the perpetrators of this type of crime are brought to justice.

[Iraq, March 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Canada also knows that we have to work toward finding a resolution to this terrible problem. We will continue to take the steps that are constructive and not merely politically expedient, as is constantly urged upon us by the opposition.

[Iraq, March 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, we did the right thing last December when we asked for the expulsion of an Iraqi diplomat long before this came to the attention of the opposition and made this a cause célèbre for them. I can assure the House that I have spoken to the American embassy here and I have its assurance that the American government is perfectly content with the way that Canada is handling this important issue.

[Iraq, March 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this is the problem with this tricky business of answering yes or no to a question. I think the hon. member's recent question explains exactly why we have to treat complicated questions with complicated answers. To the hon. member, I am sorry about that, but that is a necessity of life and I think she raised a very valid point. When the international tribunal is set up, it will have to be set up under an international agreement which will address that issue. Canada will be active in that process.

[Iraq, March 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, as the House knows we have agreed to an all party motion which addresses this matter. It was brought forward by members of the Canadian Alliance.

This is a complicated issue. There is a possibility, as I explained the other day, of a United Nations tribunal and there is a possibility of a mixed form of tribunal. We want to be active and make sure, as I have said before, that we act within the traditions of this House and of Canada in ensuring that international criminal conduct is punished by international criminal courts. I assure all members of the House that we will be active in that respect.

[Iraq, March 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, this conflict is going on and of course we are there doing our job exactly as the Minister of National Defence has said, to deal with the problem of terrorism which is related to Afghanistan and al-Qaeda. Canadians and Americans are totally united together in an attempt to destroy the danger that threatens us and we will continue to do that.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, with an introduction like that, let us remember that at the height of the cold war, when the United States and Russia were assuring each other of mutual destruction, they kept up diplomatic relations, for obvious reasons. Let us keep our heads. Let us work our way through this. Let us recognize that there are other paths and ways other than using violence to settle these issues.

Let us recognize that we have good positions on these issues like dealing with international criminals of the nature of Saddam Hussein and we will continue to pursue those in Canada's interests and in Canadian ways.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I believe this was raised in the House yesterday, and it was raised in the committee this morning. The government is more than prepared and is anxiously willing to participate in any tribunal that would be set up after this conflict to judge the perpetrators of crimes against humanity, as alleged by the opposition.

That is why we have strongly urged the establishment of an International Criminal Court. That is why our government has always been consistent on establishing a rule of law that enables us to get to these issues with a principle, a legal principle and a principle of law, and we will continue those efforts, I can assure the House of that.

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I remember the very sage words of a former foreign minister of Israel when I had this conversation with him about a similar situation. He said to me, “You do not make peace by talking to your friends. You make peace by discussing it and having communications with your enemies”.

The purpose of a diplomatic system is to allow people to exchange views, even in war, so that we can deal with these terrible issues.

The government will not be pushed into taking precipitous actions that are not in the interests of Canada. We will act in the interests in Canada and in a way in which we affirm--

[Iraq, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, absolutely not. As I explained in committee this morning and as I explained to the House yesterday, explanations which I hope the opposition is interested in, in fact, we had expelled a diplomat from Iraq at the later part of last year.

We are monitoring the situation and in the event that this person is undesirable or conducting himself in a way that is incompatible with his diplomatic status we will take action, as we always have, in the interests of Canada and in consultation with our allies.