Toronto, Canada -  Friday, 26 August 2005 - According to the Department of Foreign Affair's new International Policy Statement (IPS) "Canada will focus on making a distinctive contribution to help build a more secure world, in particular with regard to failed and fragile states."

 

"If Iraq is not a failed state in need of help, what is?" asked Prof. Salim Mansur, Senior Fellow, Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD). "This is a pivotal time for Iraqis, and it is essential for Canada to be a player in Iraq, rather than just a distant donor."

 

Canada's pledge of $300 million for Iraq reconstruction in 2003 was a positive gesture, but today, as Iraqi leaders forge ahead to create their country's new interim constitution, Canada is nowhere to be found.

 

"Canada not only declined to participate in efforts to liberate the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein's tyranny, Canada remains almost invisible at a moment in history when Iraqis need the support of every democratic country to consolidate their sacrifices for freedom," said Rochelle Wilner, Senior Vice President, CCD. "While Canada sees its role as 'distinctive', it is essential that we coordinate our involvement in democracy-building with the Iraqi, American, British and Australian administrations to make sure we optimize our efforts and minimize risk."

 

"Why has Canada not been more visible, more forthcoming and more committed to providing support for a democracy that will certainly open a new and promising chapter in contemporary Middle Eastern history?" asked Wilner. "Now is the time for Prime Minister Paul Martin to support the Iraqi people as they work to build a strong, self-sufficient democracy in the heart of the Middle East."

 

Given Iraq's monumental achievement of agreeing to a "democratic, federal, republican system" of government which protects individual rights, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and electoral rights, it is important to hear what specific plans Canada has to help solidify and secure Iraq's democratic foundations. Canada would be joining a coalition in Iraq that includes Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. These coalition members realize that if terrorism wins in Iraq, then terrorism will be emboldened in all nations, including Canada.
 
"A free and democratic Iraq will be a responsible partner with Canada and other democracies in securing peace and stability in the Persian Gulf region, an area of immense strategic importance to Canada and the world," added Mansur. "The Iraqi people have borne a heavy burden getting to this stage. Canada must not fail them now."

 

"CCD urges the Canadian government to do our part by living up to our own International Policy Statement and joining the coalition working to build democracy in the new Iraq."

 

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Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs International Policy Statement:

 

 

Salim Mansur, Senior Fellow
Canadian Coalition for  Democracies
PO Box 72602 - 345 Bloor St. East
Toronto, ON  Canada M4W 3J0

 

Tel 416-963-8998
Cell 416-452-6957 
Fax 425-944-3546
smansur@uwo.ca