StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-15-JUNE-2011
Operator: Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the media conference call with John Baird regarding Canada’s engagement in Libya. Minister Baird will make a short statement and then he will take questions from media. Bonjour Mesdames et Monsieurs. Bienvenu à la téléconférence avec le Ministre des affaires étrangères, John Baird concernant l’engagement du Canada en Libye. M Baird fera une courte déclaration et prendra en suite des questions des médias. I would now like to turn the meeting over to Minister John Baird.
Please go ahead Mr. Baird
Minister Baird: Hello it’s John Baird here. I want to thank you all for joining. I want to speak briefly about what went on yesterday in the House of Commons and the government’s position. What we had done in line with our NATO partners in this UN Sanctioned Mission, we have renewed the Canadian mission for an additional 3.5 months. That would see us go through till late September. The HOC will have been back then for at least 10 days so that it follows the parliamentary calendar, and is aligned with the NATO led mission. Obviously we’re working under the UN sanction to protect the civilian population in Libya from attack from Qadhafi regime, which has shown no regard for human rights and has refused to abide by its own international humanitarian and legal obligations. Our mission remains the same in Libya; We’re there to protect the innocent civilian population in Libya, and the Military mission for Canada will be approximately the same as it is now going forward until mid September – late September as required. Obviously we have a political objective of removing Mister Qadhafi, for him to go, but that’s not the military objective. Obviously once there is a cease-fire Mister Qadhafi will face the international criminal court where he’s already been indicted, so that’s the future for him.
Minister Baird: We’ve done a number of things, we’ve increased our humanitarian aid the Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda announced 2 million dollars in additional support to help humanitarian aid in Libya. One of the particular areas that is very troubling to all Canadians is the use of rape as a weapon of war, and some of the money will go to support initiatives to combat that and to hold those accountable for these serious allegations. We’ve also agreed to step up our diplomatic efforts and towards that end we have recognized the Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. Traditionally Canada has recognized states not governments so this is certainly significant recognition of the Transitional Council, and we’ll be announcing further measures to step up our diplomatic engagement with the Council. Here in Canada with their representatives in Benghazi and here,
That is a summary of what we’ve undertaken and I’ll be very pleased to take any questions.
Operator: Thank you. If you have a question, please press *1. Our first question is from Edward Akinwunmi from Mosaic Edition News. Please go ahead.
Reporter: Uh, Minister, please are you making any link with the organization of the African Union with regards to this situation in Libya since we know they have a very close cooperation with Qadhafi, and they may also be able to assist the international community in facilitating the mission in that area.
Minister Baird: Thank you very much for the question. Yes, the Libya contact group and others have been working with not just the Arab League and Arab countries but with the African Union. There have been a goodly amount, goodly number of official and non-official efforts including those by South African President Zuma and we certainly have had consultation and have worked with the African Union and various members of the African Union.
Reporter: Thank you very much
Minister Baird: Thank you. Merci.
Operator: Our next question from Fisal Assad from Canadian Arab News. Le prochain question par Fisal Assad from Canadian Arab News
Reporter: Good morning Mr. Baird
Minister Baird: Good morning
Reporter: I would like to ask a question for you on resolution 1973 which calls for protection of civilians. What’s happening now - reports on the ground are that also the rebels are attacking civilians. What is NATO’s position on this?
Minister Baird: Obviously the protection of civilian populations is a priority. We are working with the United Nations authorized use of force and obviously any concerns that some rebels are attacking civilians obviously are taken very seriously.
Reporter: How would you deal with it?
Minister Baird: Obviously we would want to have greater engagements with the Transitional Council and General Richard with our NATO allies would obviously look into it.
Reporter: I would like to follow up with one more question with resolution 1973. NATO claims it is only affecting civilians it seems like it is attempting to assassinate Qadhafi. Is this really an unwritten policy with NATO?
Minister Baird: No. It is obviously command and control, is a legitimate target if its part of the persecution of the civilian populations. I don’t think that’s any different in this military exercise as it is in others.
Reporter: Thanks.
Minister Baird: Thanks.
Operator: Thank you very much. Our next question is from Rachid from Journal Atlas Media.
Reporter: Bonjour monsieur le ministre
Minister Baird: Bonjour
Reporter: Une question – es ce que le Canada, et à quel degré c’est concerté avec les pays limitrophes, donc voisins de la Libye, pour essayer de trouver une solution rapide au problème Libyen.
Minister Baird : Je pense qu’on travaille bien avec le groupe contacte Libyen ou les représentants de tous les pays engagé dans l’exercice avec NATO et les autres pays arabes - ce n’est pas seulement sur le dossier arrêter les action contre le population civil mais aussi avec l’aide humanitaire et les réfugiés qui deviens plus problématique avec les voisins du Libye. Il y a beaucoup d’efforts formels et informels – c’est important d’utiliser tous les opportunités d’influencer les (INAUDIBLE) de cet opération si c’est l’Union Africain or L’Union Arabe.
Reporter : Merci
Minister Baird: Merci
Operator: There are no more questions at this time. I would like to turn the meeting back over to Minister Baird.
Minister Baird: Thank you very much for all your questions et merci pour votre participation.
Operator: Thank you. Merci. The Call has now ended.
Operator: Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the media conference call with John Baird regarding Canada’s engagement in Libya. Minister Baird will make a short statement and then he will take questions from media. Bonjour Mesdames et Monsieurs. Bienvenu à la téléconférence avec le Ministre des affaires étrangères, John Baird concernant l’engagement du Canada en Libye. M Baird fera une courte déclaration et prendra en suite des questions des médias. I would now like to turn the meeting over to Minister John Baird.
Please go ahead Mr. Baird
Minister Baird: Hello it’s John Baird here. I want to thank you all for joining. I want to speak briefly about what went on yesterday in the House of Commons and the government’s position. What we had done in line with our NATO partners in this UN Sanctioned Mission, we have renewed the Canadian mission for an additional 3.5 months. That would see us go through till late September. The HOC will have been back then for at least 10 days so that it follows the parliamentary calendar, and is aligned with the NATO led mission. Obviously we’re working under the UN sanction to protect the civilian population in Libya from attack from Qadhafi regime, which has shown no regard for human rights and has refused to abide by its own international humanitarian and legal obligations. Our mission remains the same in Libya; We’re there to protect the innocent civilian population in Libya, and the Military mission for Canada will be approximately the same as it is now going forward until mid September – late September as required. Obviously we have a political objective of removing Mister Qadhafi, for him to go, but that’s not the military objective. Obviously once there is a cease-fire Mister Qadhafi will face the international criminal court where he’s already been indicted, so that’s the future for him.
Minister Baird: We’ve done a number of things, we’ve increased our humanitarian aid the Minister of International Cooperation Bev Oda announced 2 million dollars in additional support to help humanitarian aid in Libya. One of the particular areas that is very troubling to all Canadians is the use of rape as a weapon of war, and some of the money will go to support initiatives to combat that and to hold those accountable for these serious allegations. We’ve also agreed to step up our diplomatic efforts and towards that end we have recognized the Transitional Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people. Traditionally Canada has recognized states not governments so this is certainly significant recognition of the Transitional Council, and we’ll be announcing further measures to step up our diplomatic engagement with the Council. Here in Canada with their representatives in Benghazi and here,
That is a summary of what we’ve undertaken and I’ll be very pleased to take any questions.
Operator: Thank you. If you have a question, please press *1. Our first question is from Edward Akinwunmi from Mosaic Edition News. Please go ahead.
Reporter: Uh, Minister, please are you making any link with the organization of the African Union with regards to this situation in Libya since we know they have a very close cooperation with Qadhafi, and they may also be able to assist the international community in facilitating the mission in that area.
Minister Baird: Thank you very much for the question. Yes, the Libya contact group and others have been working with not just the Arab League and Arab countries but with the African Union. There have been a goodly amount, goodly number of official and non-official efforts including those by South African President Zuma and we certainly have had consultation and have worked with the African Union and various members of the African Union.
Reporter: Thank you very much
Minister Baird: Thank you. Merci.
Operator: Our next question from Fisal Assad from Canadian Arab News. Le prochain question par Fisal Assad from Canadian Arab News
Reporter: Good morning Mr. Baird
Minister Baird: Good morning
Reporter: I would like to ask a question for you on resolution 1973 which calls for protection of civilians. What’s happening now - reports on the ground are that also the rebels are attacking civilians. What is NATO’s position on this?
Minister Baird: Obviously the protection of civilian populations is a priority. We are working with the United Nations authorized use of force and obviously any concerns that some rebels are attacking civilians obviously are taken very seriously.
Reporter: How would you deal with it?
Minister Baird: Obviously we would want to have greater engagements with the Transitional Council and General Richard with our NATO allies would obviously look into it.
Reporter: I would like to follow up with one more question with resolution 1973. NATO claims it is only affecting civilians it seems like it is attempting to assassinate Qadhafi. Is this really an unwritten policy with NATO?
Minister Baird: No. It is obviously command and control, is a legitimate target if its part of the persecution of the civilian populations. I don’t think that’s any different in this military exercise as it is in others.
Reporter: Thanks.
Minister Baird: Thanks.
Operator: Thank you very much. Our next question is from Rachid from Journal Atlas Media.
Reporter: Bonjour monsieur le ministre
Minister Baird: Bonjour
Reporter: Une question – es ce que le Canada, et à quel degré c’est concerté avec les pays limitrophes, donc voisins de la Libye, pour essayer de trouver une solution rapide au problème Libyen.
Minister Baird : Je pense qu’on travaille bien avec le groupe contacte Libyen ou les représentants de tous les pays engagé dans l’exercice avec NATO et les autres pays arabes - ce n’est pas seulement sur le dossier arrêter les action contre le population civil mais aussi avec l’aide humanitaire et les réfugiés qui deviens plus problématique avec les voisins du Libye. Il y a beaucoup d’efforts formels et informels – c’est important d’utiliser tous les opportunités d’influencer les (INAUDIBLE) de cet opération si c’est l’Union Africain or L’Union Arabe.
Reporter : Merci
Minister Baird: Merci
Operator: There are no more questions at this time. I would like to turn the meeting back over to Minister Baird.
Minister Baird: Thank you very much for all your questions et merci pour votre participation.
Operator: Thank you. Merci. The Call has now ended.
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