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08/31/2004 Archived Entry: "Pettigrew: Canada pondering sanctions"

Posted by steve @ 06:29 PM EST [Link]

SOON WE'LL BE MIFFED: Canada moved from being "disturbed" about one of its citizens being beaten to death by Iranian torturers to not ruling out sanctions.

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew said Tuesday that Canada has not ruled out sanctions against Iran to protest the death in custody of a Quebec-based photojournalist.

Pettigrew, who was on his first visit to the European Union as Canada's new foreign affairs minister, said he discussed the case of slain Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi with EU counterparts during two days of meetings in Brussels.

"I raised it in every one of my meetings," Pettigrew said after meeting Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht.

Pettigrew met with EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pettigrew said that he was "exchanging and comparing notes" with the EU about what Canada and Europe could do to improve human rights in Iran, including possible diplomatic action in the Kazemi case.

Right now we're mulling over sanctions. The next step in the Canadian Guide to Diplomacy is "possibly considering thinking about maybe issuing a stronger statement." Don't make Canada angry or we'll go Raffi on your ass.

Replies: 1 Comment

Ah yes: the diplomatic version of yelling "Car!" That's about the best we Canadians seem capable of...

Posted by kathy @ 09/01/2004 08:37 AM EST