June 12, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and Russia:
“On this day in 1942, Canada and Russia formally established diplomatic relations. Seventy years later, in a world that has transformed far beyond recognition, Canada’s ties with Russia endure.
“As Arctic neighbours and trading partners, Canada and Russia enjoy a level of bilateral cooperation that has yielded tangible results for both our peoples. Our partnership in organizations like the G-8, the G-20 and APEC, which Russia currently chairs, has brought Canada and Russia closer together.
“Our ties extend far beyond diplomatic niceties, as our national hockey teams have enjoyed fierce competition over the decades at almost every level, all for the love of the game.
“I look forward to working constructively with my counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to tackle some of the grave challenges facing the world today.”
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