Home > "We Need Allies Like Canada," Israel’s Avigdor Lieberman
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Jewish Tribune - Radio Reka
We need allies like Canada, Israeli foreign minister says
Excerpt from a Radio Reka interview (translated from Russian) with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on his visit to Canada late last month.
Q: Please tell us about the visit to Canada.
Avigdor Lieberman: Canada is definitely an ally. Today it’s hard to point out our most loyal ally, but Canada is undoubtedly an exception, in the positive sense. Canada was the first to boycott the Durban II conference that was held in Switzerland. In Canada I met with the head of the opposition and of course with my colleague, the foreign minister. I also had meetings with four other ministers, including the minister of finance and the minister entrusted with matters of international trade. It’s hard to find a country friendlier to Israel than Canada these days. Members both of the coalition and the opposition are loyal friends to us, both with regard to their worldview and their estimation of the situation in everything related to the Middle East, North Korea, Iran, Sudan and Somalia. No other country in the world has demonstrated such full understanding of us. The Jewish community in Canada is very united, unlike the communities in most countries, and it maintains solid contacts both in the government and in Parliament. I got the impression of a whole, harmonious picture of great support for Israel.
Q: The Canadian option might be the best one?
Lieberman: Canada is so friendly that there was no need to convince or explain anything to anyone. We had amiable talks in a supportive atmosphere; we seriously discussed the problems existing in the world. We need allies like this in the international arena.