OTTAWA, Ont. (voa) – Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien has reaffirmed his country’s friendship with the United States, but says Ottawa is standing by its decision not to send troops to Iraq.
Speaking in parliament Tuesday, the prime minister said Canada’s refusal to join the U.S.-led coalition was based on principle, not its friendship with the United States.
He disassociated himself, however, from anti-American comments made by some lawmakers in his governing Liberal party.
The Bush administration has criticized Ottawa for failing to directly support U.S.-led war efforts in Iraq, although Canada is providing limited logistical support in the Persian Gulf.
Canadian business leaders have said trade ties with the United States will suffer due to Canada’s reluctance to send troops to Iraq.
Mr. Chretien was first elected to the Canadian legislature 40 years ago Tuesday.
OTTAWA, Ontario (April 8, 2003) – “Canada took a principled stand against participating in military intervention in Iraq. From the beginning our position has been clear. To work through the United Nations to achieve the goals we share with our friends and allies. Disarming Saddam Hussein. Strengthening the international rule of law and human rights. Working towards enduring peace in the region.
We worked very, very hard to achieve a consensus in the Security Council. We hoped with a little more time and with robust inspections that war could be averted and Iraq could have been disarmed.
We argued that a multilateral approach through the United Nations was key to enhancing the international legitimacy of military action and would make it easier after the war was over. We applied these principles in deciding not to join the coalition when the war began without a new resolution of the Security Council.
The decision on whether or not to send troops into battle must always be a decision of principle. Not a decision of economics. Not even a decision of friendship alone.
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Prime Minister Chrétien in a bilateral meeting with President Bush at the Cobo Conference Center (Detroit, September 9, 2002) – Photo: PM Office |
Our friendship with the United States is far stronger than some of our critics would have us believe. Our friendship is far stronger than those who scare-monger would have us believe. It is far stronger than some who purport to speak for the business community would have us believe. Close friends can disagree at times and can still remain close friends.
I remember as a young Member of Parliament when Mr. Pearson spoke out in the United States against the war in Vietnam. But the United States administration was disappointed. And I suspect that even the American ambassador at the time was disappointed. But our friendship did not suffer. Neither country has ever been in the business of economic retaliation over disagreements on issues of foreign policy. That is not what our relationship is all about.
The closeness of our relationship goes well beyond economics alone. Many of us remember with pride some 23 years ago when Ken Taylor, the Canadian ambassador in Iran, rescued Americans in the US Embassy in Teheran. That is what our friendship is all about. A friendship that is found in the relations between our two national governments, our states and provinces, our cities, our institutions of learning, our businesses, our hospitals. Above all in our people who work together, marry one another, go to one another’s schools and universities, play in the same sports leagues, and even sometimes live in one country and work in the other.
The decision we made three weeks ago was not an easy one at all. We would have preferred to be able to agree with our friends. But we, as an independent country, make our own decisions based on our own principles. Such as our longstanding belief in the value of a multilateral approach to global problems. An approach which we believe is more than ever necessary. As we face the threats of global terrorism, environmental damage on a vast scale, and many other extremely difficult challenges.
The true test of our principles and our values is precisely whether they guide us when our choices are very difficult. I am proud that this House has spoken so clearly for our principles. I am proud of this country. And I am grateful for the support of Canadians.
Now the war is on and our friends are in battle. While we are not participating in the coalition for reasons I have expressed, let it be very clear, this government and all Canadians hope for a quick victory for the U.S.-led coalition with a minimum of casualties. We share the concerns of our American, British and Australian friends for their sons and daughters who are bravely fighting. We share concern for the safety of Iraqi civilians. We care about the outcome even if we are not participants in the war. This means that we should not say things that could give comfort to Saddam Hussein. And this means we should not do things that would create real difficulties for the coalition.
While some express their disappointment because we are not participating in the coalition, perhaps they forget that the USA is currently waging two wars and we are fully engaged in supporting them in the war on terrorism.”
