Canada & Israel Mark 60 Years of Diplomatic Relations

Today – May 11 – is the 60th anniversary of relations between Canada and Israel. Both countries acknowledged their long and close friendship with government statements:

Canada Commemorates 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Israel
May 11, 2009

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement commemorating 60 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and Israel:

“Today, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Israel. This is a milestone that reflects the breadth and depth of the links between two democratic allies. Canada values its long-standing relationship with Israel, which is based on shared values, common interests and strong political, economic, cultural and social ties. I was pleased to visit Israel earlier this year to launch the year-long celebration of this momentous occasion.

“Our relationship has strengthened in recent years, as evidenced by increased cooperation in several areas, including public security, defence, trade and investment, and an increase in political-level contact.

“One of the underlying strengths of the Canada-Israel relationship is the extensive network of informal links between our two countries. There are some 20,000 Canadian citizens living in Israel, and many Canadians have family there. The Canadian Jewish community is 350,000 strong and acts as an important bridge between Canada and Israel. These strong ties give rise to significant cooperation between our two countries in business, education, culture, philanthropy and tourism.

“To commemorate this important milestone, 2009 will bear witness to a number of diplomatic, cultural and academic events in Canada and Israel. For example, the Israeli Embassy recently organized an Israeli-Canadian literature evening at the Ottawa International Writers Festival. In the month of May, there will be musical performances at the International Pavilion, as part of the annual Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa.

“As we reflect on the past 60 years, we see the emergence and growth of a permanent bond between the two nations. As we consider the next 60 years and beyond, we see endless possibilities for Canada and Israel. We look forward to continued growth in our strong partnership with Israel.”

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FM Liberman’s statement in recognition of 60 years of Israel-Canada relations
11 May 2009

FM Liberman expressed his appreciation of the long-term friendship, and emphasized the importance of the multi-faceted relationship

(Communicated by the Foreign Minister’s Bureau)

FM Liberman emphasized the importance of the friendship between Israel and Canada after 60 years of diplomatic relations .

FM Liberman described the importance that Israel imparts to the special friendship with Canada, noting that not only was Canada one of the 33 countries who voted for the establishment of the state in the UN on 29 November 1947, but that the Canadian representative also played a central role in the passing of the resolution.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on 11 May 1949, the relationship has grown and flourished. The close relationship of the two democracies is multi-faceted, and includes political, economic, social, cultural, legal and academic relations. These relations are based on mutual support of the values of freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law. FM Liberman emphasized the role of the Jewish community in Canada in the preservation and strengthening of the relationship.

The diverse relationship between the two countries is currently expressed by the free-trade agreement, the joint industrial R&D fund, and bilateral cooperation in many fields, including agricultural research, water treatment, internal security, legal cooperation, relationships between universities and cultural exchanges.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the bilateral relationship, various events emphasizing the special relationship are planned to take place in both Israel and Canada during the forthcoming year.

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