NEWS RELEASES

November 23, 2004 (9:30 a.m. EST) No. 133

CANADA APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO IRAN

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that Gordon Venner will assume his duties as Canada’s new Ambassador to Iran.

In July 2004, Canada withdrew its then-ambassador, Philip MacKinnon, for consultations after failures in the Iranian justice system with respect to the case of Zahra Kazemi.

Canada remains deeply committed to this case. Mr. Venner will make further representations to the appropriate Iranian authorities on Canada’s behalf. He will also continue to work closely with the Kazemi family and their legal representatives in order to pursue as far as possible those avenues of redress provided by the Iranian judicial system. “Justice denied is offensive to Canadians. This case will be pursued energetically,” said Minister Pettigrew.

“It is important to resume our full diplomatic presence in Iran at this juncture,” added the Minister. “Our Ambassador will be responsible for representing Canada’s views on Iran’s nuclear program at a time when Canada chairs the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency. In addition, he will advocate strongly for Canada’s position on the human rights situation in Iran. In particular, he will explain our views with respect to the resolution we tabled at the United Nations General Assembly on November 2, 2004.

“These are issues of consequence to Canadians. To make an effective case in Iran, we require sufficiently senior representation,” the Minister concluded.

Mr. Venner will be replacing Mr. MacKinnon, who assumed the position of Canadian Ambassador to Egypt in September 2004.

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A biographical note on the appointee is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Gordon Venner (BA, University of Western Ontario, 1979; MSc, London School of Economics, 1982) joined the Department of External Affairs and International Trade in 1989 and served abroad at the Canadian Mission to the European Union in Brussels. In Ottawa, he served in the European Community Division, which later became the European Union Division. Since 2000, he has been Director, International Economic Relations and Summits Division. Mr. Venner is married to Marilyn Venner and has a son. Mr. Venner succeeds Philip MacKinnon.