The note I received from Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird, on behalf of the Canadian Government and their attention to the Syria crisis: Dear Ms. Prescott-Brown: Thank you for your emails. I am also replying on behalf of my colleague the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Americas and Consular Affairs). Canada shares your concern for the people of Syria. The Government of Canada has been a vocal critic of the Assad regime. Prime Minister Harper joined with the United States and other members of the international community in calling on al Assad to step aside. I have repeatedly urged the regime to end its violent crackdown, abuses, arbitrary arrests and the detention and torture of protestors and dissidents. I have also condemned the regime’s attacks against its own population. You may read my statements on the website of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) at international.gc.ca/media/index.aspx?view=d. To respond to the gravity of the situation in Syria, Canada has imposed 11 rounds of sanctions against the Syrian regime under the Special Economic Measures Act. More information regarding the sanctions can be found on DFAIT’s website at international.gc.ca/sanctions/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng&menu_id=70&view=d. Canada encourages Syria’s neighbours to consider similar measures in an effort to end the violence. Canada has also repeatedly called on the United Nations (UN) Security Council to impose tough, binding economic sanctions on Syria under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Canada is working with the international community to help end the crisis in Syria by participating in the Group of Friends of the Syrian People and its associated working groups. I attended the inaugural meeting of the Group in Tunis, Republic of Tunisia, on February 24, 2012, as well as each of the subsequent meetings of the Group since that time. The Government of Canada is gravely concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation resulting from the crisis in Syria, and the impact of the crisis on those who remain in the country and those who have fled to neighbouring countries. Through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Canada has provided $48.5 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the crisis in Syria. You may find more information on CIDA’s website at acdi-cida.gc.ca/syria. DFAIT is meanwhile providing $11.5 million in assistance to help Jordan respond to an influx of tens of thousands of refugees from Syria. Please be assured that Canada will continue to follow developments in Syria closely and raise its concerns as appropriate. For more information on Canada’s position and recent actions, I invite you to visit DFAIT’s website at international.gc.ca/international/syria-syrie.aspx?lang=eng&view=d. Thank you for taking the time to write and express your concerns. Sincerely, John Baird, P.C., M.P. Minister of Foreign Affairs c.c. The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, P.C., M.P.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:48:30 +0000