Canada to push reprimand of Iran before UN
OTTAWA — The Harper government is planning to put a resolution condemning Iran’s human rights record before the United Nations in November despite what appears to be a breakthrough in relations between the Islamic Republic and the West.
New Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and U.S. President Barack Obama spoke Friday, the first time leaders from the two countries have spoken directly since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.
Relations between Canada and Iran, however, remain frozen as the Conservative government has said it wants real proof Iran is ready to embrace change, including opening its nuclear program to international scrutiny.
Canada has successfully led resolutions condemning Iran’s human rights record each year since 2002, and Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Friday the government is planning to do so this year as well.
Speaking to a group of Persian Gulf foreign ministers during a special lunch meeting, Baird said it is “sustained international attention and pressure that will foster change” in Iran.
“We therefore encourage you to support the Iran human rights resolution when this item is considered by the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly in November.”
Baird has been soliciting support for the resolution this week in meetings with foreign representatives on the sidelines of the United Nations in New York.
Human rights violations in Iran are considered rampant, and include crackdowns on opposition parties, protesters and the media; the use of torture, arbitrary detention and execution; and the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.
In addition to discussing Iran, Baird’s meeting with his Persian Gulf counterparts on Friday offered an opportunity to establish closer relations with key players in that politically volatile yet economically dynamic part of the world. He proposed a strategic dialogue between Canada and those governments in attendance.
“Such a dialogue would enable us to meet, discuss and collaborate on issues of mutual concern, and to advance our shared interests in support of stability and prosperity,” he said.
Not only has the government identified the bloc as a federal trade priority, Baird said Canada believes it is “in the global interest for the GCC to take on an increasing role in both regional security matters as well as global economic ones.”