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<html> <head> <meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8"> <title>MR. GRAHAM - ADDRESS TO THE CONSEIL DES RELATIONS INTERNATIONALES DE MONTRÉAL (CORIM) - MONTREAL, QUEBEC</title> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE BILL GRAHAM, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO THE CONSEIL DES RELATIONS INTERNATIONALES DE MONTRÉAL MONTREAL, Quebec October 4, 2002 I want to begin by thanking Mr. Coulon for his friendly introduction and Mr. Fortier for his kind invitation to today's meeting with the members of CORIM [Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal] and the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre. You have most generously mentioned some of my past doings, Mr. Coulon, but you left out one of my main boasts: I was born in Montreal! You have to understand that, for a wee Scot like myself, being born in the world's second-biggest French-speaking city--and on St. Patrick's Day, to boot--was quite a feat! What is more, as a young lawyer I had the good fortune to spend a lot of time in Montreal. Also in Montreal, I became a founding member of the Société Québécoise de Droit international, and I lived for over 6 months in the Windsor Hotel when Yves Fortier and I were lawyers with the Commission of Inquiry on Air Communications that upheld the contentions of the "Gens de l'Air." Added to the years when I taught law at McGill and the Université de Montréal, these experiences shared with the Montreal and Quebec legal community gave me an appreciation of the important role Montreal plays on the international scene, especially as a gateway to Europe and the world. And in meetings in Quebec with NGOs [non-governmental organizations], youth and academic circles, I have been able to see the major contribution Quebec society makes to what is best in the Canadian identity through its energy, values and receptiveness to the world outside. For more than eight months now I have had the honour of serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs. I now realize--I would say, even more keenly--the importance our compatriots attach to world issues and our country's international role and responsibilities. In our increasingly interdependent world, how we tackle these issues will define the choices available to us, choices that will affect our ways and conditions of life. And just as importantly, also at stake is our participation in the international community of which we are such an integral part. There is now general agreement that the traditional distinction between the issues of domestic policy and foreign policy applies less and less. Our foreign policy choices, not only in economics but also in other vital areas such as social and human rights, culture and environment, will have decisive impacts on our collective prosperity and what we are and will become as a society. To begin with, I have to assume we have the capacity to make choices and follow through on our decisions. Now when it comes to making choices, Canadians have always been receptive to the idea of sharing their responsibilities and opportunities with the rest of the world. Reviewing our past choices in foreign policy clearly shows that our social and economic prosperity, our cultural vitality and security are essentially dependent on our willingness to adjust to a constantly changing international environment, one requirement of which is to revise our entrenched traditional idea of national independence. In other words, we have to pursue the defence and advancement of our interests as a country because the well-being of our fellow citizens is involved. But we also have to relate to the rest of the world by helping to chart the development of the tools of multilateralism to reflect our own values and objectives. With this preamble, I want to talk to you about challenges to the tradition of Canadian foreign policy, or in other words, our country's contribution to the world. Interdependence is proving to be a necessity that stems increasingly from plain facts. Environmental deterioration; endemic poverty in some regions; epidemics; insecurity sowed by terrorism and organized crime: these are serious, complex issues that no state, however powerful, can expect to resolve on its own. To succeed, our countries have to work together. Recognizing our interdependence gives each country even more effective power to act, on account of the sharing of information, resources and initiatives. The principles of multilateralism are fully and actively supported by Canada. And these principles have found a strong and resolute voice in the UN, especially in its Millennium Declaration. Rightly, that Declaration assigns a critical role to the United Nations Charter. Much more than the constitution of the international community, this Charter represents its very heart. It reconciles national interests with the highest moral and ethical standards that should shape the actions of every state. In addition to providing one of the best foundations for multilateralism, the Charter is the key that will let us open the way to that world of peace, security and justice to which humanity aspires. The terrorist threat is yet another strong reason why countries must work together, a tragic illustration of how interdependent we really are. It demonstrates the urgency of finding solutions equal to the challenge, their effectiveness depending on new partnerships between countries. Our reaction to terrorism has proven resolute and unyielding to the purveyors of terror. But if we want it to be truly effective we must also, and perhaps primarily, ensure that the security of the state is coupled with respect for basic rights. The fact is that democratic governance and security occur in societies that respect rights and freedoms and where, as a result, dissent will generally take constructive and non-violent forms. These are principles strongly supported by people across Canada, and our government is committed to promoting them both at home and abroad. Abandoning this duty would be a betrayal of Canadian values. I also feel it is crucial to remember that the challenge of terrorism must spur us to open our minds and hearts to the diversity of our world, its cultures and religions. More than ever, we have to encourage dialogue, understanding and the tolerance of people for people. In this way, we will help to eradicate at its source much of the evil that all too often comes out in mounting hatred and all kinds of extremism and fanaticism. The multilateral approach has more than proved its appropriateness in the past year. To take Afghanistan as an example, dozens of countries have pooled their efforts to provide that country's new leaders with their resources and experience, by contributing to the various United Nations programs to support the political stability and representativeness of the new Afghani government. In this particular case, multilateralism has taken the form of international support for a country whose people have for too long been cruelly afflicted by internal wars and conflicts, often inflated by tribal rivalries and generally aggravated by drug trafficking. Whether in Afghanistan or elsewhere, Canada is always ready to provide support where the need is felt, and we urge the international community to keep doing the same. We also see the multilateral approach is the likeliest to meet the major challenges of sustainable development. Here, the consensus that emerged from the Monterrey Conference calls on all countries to work together to build more extensive partnerships between developed and developing countries. By participating and supporting efforts to give Monterrey genuine effect, Canada asserts the need to make globalization synonymous, not just with economic prosperity, but also with respect for human and social rights. By speaking with one voice in multilateral bodies, Canadians are likely to influence the advent of globalization in a way that serves their interests and their values. I want to mention in passing that, here again, the dynamic contribution of Quebeckers is helping to give our country an even stronger and more united voice. Together, we can go farther, accomplish more and so better promote our collective world view. In this respect, Africa is of great concern to our compatriots. Truly, that continent's situation commands urgent action. For all too long, failure to act has brought dramatic consequences in terms of human suffering. However, hope is beginning to appear on the horizon. The New Partnership for African Development has been worked out by African leaders who are determined to face the challenges of self-development themselves, and it was endorsed at the G8 Kananaskis Summit due to Canadian persistence. It is intended to give the people of Africa conditions founded on good governance and democracy, while ending that continent's marginalization and affording its people a chance to taste prosperity. If there is another issue that sheds lights on both the importance of multilateralism and the intrinsic reality of our interdependence, that issue is the Kyoto Accord. In fact the greenhouse effect is planetary and general by its very nature. Depending on where you are on the planet, you may fear desertification, or floods, or the destruction of natural resources and human habitat, not to mention other all too possible misfortunes. But one thing is certain: climate change that comes too suddenly and too generally will, sooner or later, affect all of us without exception. That is why the Canadian government is concerned about this issue. And it is why our country signed the Kyoto Protocol, that multilateral agreement which, to come into force, is still awaiting ratification by a certain number of countries that produce major carbon monoxide emissions. You will agree with me that, if the problem is global, the solution has to be global too. But some say that, since Canada, in absolute figures, is only a "minor" polluter, this should be a reason to do nothing because, still going by this opinion, our efforts would not make much of a difference. The same people will also say that the fulfilment of our international obligations will necessarily involve difficult decisions for our country. To my mind, this thinking is unworthy of Canada. I would even counter it by saying this is one more reason to act, not only for the predictable health and environmental benefits for our country, but also in response to the sense of responsibility felt by large numbers of Canadians towards the international community and the need to protect our global environment. Let us now look, if you will, at another challenge where the multilateral solution is more needed than ever. This is the promotion of cultural diversity, an issue that will be at the core of the Francophone Summit to be held shortly in Beirut on the theme: "Dialogue of Cultures." Promoting cultural diversity is one of the greatest challenges of the century now beginning. This is an international issue that seriously concerns us. Some 6,000 languages are spoken in today's world. How many of them will still be around in 100 years? How can we make sure that technology fully reflects the diversity of our planet? How can we guarantee Internet access to all our children in the language of their choice? These are crucial questions, and the cultures of the whole world will be weakened if we fail to find strong and effective answers. We must therefore act, and act now. We have to honour our responsibilities to future generations. They are entitled to their own forms of expression and the cultural wealth of their country, as well as access, facilitated by the new technologies, to the best the world has to offer. In Canada we believe that cultures are enriched by mutual exchange. We see each culture as both a perspective on the world and a bridge that unites us. Because they are world citizens sustained by a clear set of values and multi-faceted cultures, Canadians believe that all cultures have their place in the world and must be able to express themselves fully. Here is one more reason for Canadians, in the name of our identity, our history and diversity, to work together to build a genuine cultural dialogue and promote, or at least defend, cultural diversity. I would like to conclude with a few words about a problem for which we see the multilateral solution as definitely though not exclusively preferable. I am speaking, of course, of the matter of Iraq. Today finds us in a climate of mounting tension caused by the fact that Iraq is continuing to abuse the will of the international community and also by the prevailing disagreements about how to end this crisis. Let us be clear: the present tensions originated 11 years ago in the persistent refusal of the Iraqi government to fulfil its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions. From Canada's point of view, action to make Iraq fulfil its international obligations must be taken by institutions the international community has created for this purpose--in this case, primarily the UN. In other words,: the multilateral approach must prevail. We believe that our capacity to find a solution to this challenge--a solution stemming from the international framework we have built at the cost of so much effort since the last world war--constitutes a turning-point for the present generation and will set precedents that may determine the future direction of our world. We are therefore asking Iraq to take this opprtunity without delay and grant immediate and unconditional access to the UN inspection teams, in accordance with its obligations to the United Nations Security Council. Obviously, it is up to the Iraqi government to act at this time. But the burden of ensuring that our common institutions come out of this crisis strengthened also falls on the international community. Undoubtedly, as seen in the problem of Iraq, the challenge of multilateralism rarely arises in simple terms, and our institutions are admittedly imperfect. But that is no reason to doubt the need for an effective international system based on commonly agreed rules. Where shortcomings exist we have to tackle them, reform what has to be reformed, and in so doing answer the criticisms of those who refuse to learn from the interdependence of the world's countries. We take great encouragement from the fact that UN Secretary-General Koffi Annan and his Canadian deputy Louise Fréchette are proposing far-reaching reforms for the United Nations. They can rely on active support from Canada, for we will win the skeptics over by introducing better multilateral institutions that will make the primacy of international law, not a mere concept, but a very tangible reality to benefit all of the planet's peoples. So, dear friends, thank you for letting me take this opportunity to call to mind that Canada, more than ever, intends to be an ardent promoter of the international multilateral system. It is this statement of belief in multilateralism that I want to renew before you today, for I know that it is essentially consistent with your values and vision of our country's role and responsibilities in this interdependent world of ours. Thank you. </body> </html>

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