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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Canada to walk out on Ahmadinejad's UN speech |
| 2009-09-24 |
| Canada will boycott Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the United Nations on Wednesday, saying his outbursts about the Holocaust and Israel are "shameful." Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon will be at the world body to attend the opening of the UN General Assembly's annual debate, but officials signal he and other members of the Canadian delegation will vacate the Canadian seats when the Islamic republic's President approaches the podium. Walking out of the chamber is seen as a strong diplomatic show of disgust at the UN -- and since the chamber is generally packed on the first day of the annual summit, Canada's empty seats will not go unnoticed. One of the first speakers of the day will be U.S. President Barack Obama, who is making his debut address before the assembly. "President Ahmadinejad's repeated denial of the Holocaust and his anti-Israel comments run counter to the values of the UN General Assembly, and they're shameful," said one Canadian official. "He uses his public appearances to provoke the international community, and that is why Canada's seats will be empty." The gesture is a step stronger than one announced on Tuesday by the German foreign ministry, which asked other European Union member states to walk out of the General Assembly chamber if Mr. Ahmadinejad again denies the Holocaust, or makes anti-Semitic statements. The Canadian initiative will be welcomed by Israel, which on Tueday urged all delegates in the 192-member chamber to stay away when Mr. Ahmadinejad speaks. "A few days ago he gave a new speech of hate," Gabriela Shalev, Israeli ambassador to the UN, told Israeli army radio. "The simple fact of leaving the room during his speech, or not to be present during it, is a symbolic act." Iranian officials said this week Mr. Ahmadinejad intended to use his speech to offer a message of "peace and friendship." |
| Posted by:Fred |
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| Posted by: whatadeal 2009-09-24 17:12 |
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| Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007 2009-09-24 12:39 |
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| Posted by: gorb 2009-09-24 11:16 |
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| Posted by: AlanC 2009-09-24 11:06 |
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| Posted by: ed 2009-09-24 08:20 |