November 30, 2012 – Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“Canada is deeply disappointed but not surprised by yesterday’s result at the United Nations General Assembly.
“Our government’s position is clear: the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace is through negotiations, not unilateral actions.
“To that end, Canada is bringing its heads of missions in Israel and Ramallah and its permanent representatives to the UN in New York and Geneva back to Ottawa temporarily to assess the implications of yesterday’s UN General Assembly vote and inform Canada’s response to it.
“Canada will now review the full range of its bilateral relationship with the Palestinian Authority.
“Canada is proud of the support it has provided to improve the stability and security of the Palestinian society. Yesterday’s unilateral action does nothing to further the Middle East peace process. It will not change the reality on the streets of the West Bank or Gaza. This unilateral step is an impediment to peace.
“We again call on the Palestinian Authority and Israel to return to negotiations without preconditions, for the good of their people.”
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