January 29, 2013 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“I am concerned about the impartiality of any investigation into the 1994 terrorist bombing of the Jewish cultural centre in Argentina that includes Iran, given there is credible evidence to suggest that Iran was implicated in this act of terrorism.
“We are concerned that it appears Iran will now be investigating itself.
“Iran’s ongoing support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas and its incitement to genocide of the Jewish people are all well documented. These are, in fact, reasons Canada recently listed Iran as a state supporter of terror.
“Those affected by this incident deserve justice, and that is simply not feasible if Iran joins this investigation.
“Canada is committed to the global fight against terrorism and to holding perpetrators and supporters of terrorism to account.”
Canada officially listed Iran as a state supporter of terrorism in the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act on September 7, 2012, and listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code on December 20, 2012.
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