Dion invited to join international talks on Syrian conflict
The United States and Russia have invited Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion to sit as a permanent member of the 17-nation International Syria Support Group which is meeting in Vienna on Tuesday to find a diplomatic solution to the Syrian conflict and extend a country-wide truce.
Russia co-chairs the group with the U.S., and the Liberal government says the invitation is a sign that its openness to dialogue with the Kremlin allows Canada to play a greater role on the world stage.
“This week’s development is a testament to engagement over isolation and to the strength of Canada’s commitment to multilateralism,” Mr. Dion said in a statement to The Globe and Mail. “Canada’s role in the fight for peace and the protection of civilians in the region will be enhanced by our participation on the [International Syria Support Group].”
The former Conservative government showed little interest in pushing its way into the talks and it might not have been successful in any case because of then prime minister Stephen Harper’s hardline rhetoric toward Russia and Iran.
No comments:
Post a Comment