Canada and the UK are deeply concerned by reports of large scale military action along the Line of Contact in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. Reports of shelling of settlements and civilian casualties are deeply concerning. We call for the immediate end of hostilities, respect for the ceasefire agreement, and the protection of civilians.
Since the fraudulent presidential elections of August 2020, Alexander Lukashenko continues to display disdain for the people of Belarus by holding a so-called inauguration ceremony behind closed doors today.
The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition’s Executive Group express their concern about continued attacks on media freedom surrounding the August 9, 2020, presidential election in Belarus.
Today, as we celebrate the International Day of Peace and as the United Nations marks its 75th anniversary, we are reminded that the rules-based international order offers our best hope of both achieving peace and ending this pandemic. Peaceful cooperation is behind many of our greatest successes globally, nationally and within our communities.
Trade agreements like CETA are vital to our efforts toward economic recovery from COVID-19, restoring supply chains, diversifying trade relationships and strengthening rules-based trade for the 21st century — all to the benefit of our citizens.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the establishment of a mission of experts to report on the fraudulent Belarusian presidential election and the ongoing violent aftermath:
We, the signatories, are deeply troubled by and condemn the recently reported and ongoing use of partial and complete Internet shutdowns, as well as targeted content blocking, by the Government of Belarus in the aftermath of the fraudulent 2020 Belarusian presidential elections. Shutdowns and blocking or filtering of services unjustifiably limit the rights of peaceful assembly and freedoms of association and expression, especially when they lack procedural fairness and transparency. In conjunction with restrictive measures and intimidation employed against opposition candidates and the mass arrests and detentions of Belarusian civil society members and journalists, actions to limit access to the Internet, including social media and other digital communication platforms, further erode civic space. We will continue to stand with the people of Belarus, who are making their voices heard in spite of these oppressive measures, and we are especially heartened by the critical and central role women are playing in calling for fairness and accountability.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement: “Canada welcomes the historic signing of the Abraham Accords at the White House, establishing full diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and Israel and Bahrain.
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement: “Canada welcomes the start of negotiations between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban. After more than 40 years of conflict, this is a long-awaited opportunity to pursue the elements of peace for the people of Afghanistan.