Canadian Foreign Minister Cannon to Israeli President Peres: “Canada is willing to assist the peace process”

Here is a press release from the Office of the President of Israel:

President Shimon Peres conducted a work meeting with the Canadian Foreign Minister, Mr. Lawrence Cannon, guest of the Israeli Presidential Conference 2009. At the start of the meeting President Peres told Minister Cannon that Israel places great importance in strengthening its strategic relationship with Canada. The President also thanked Minister Cannon for the support Israel has received from Canada over many years. He then harshly criticized Goldstone Report, saying “it is truly unimaginable that an institution such as the United Nations commissions a report knowing that it is based on biased, pre-determined conclusions based and manipulation of the facts; a report that will, above all, reward terrorism.”

The President said that “Israel is willing to work hard in the service of peace”. He then presented to Minister Cannon the general framework to advance negotiations with the Palestinians.

Minister Cannon told the President “We as Canadians stand beside you particularly against the threat of terrorism and comments that deny the Jewish State or the Jewish People. These are things that are foreign to Canadian values, and to Canada itself.”

At the end of the meeting Minister Cannon said that Canada is very interested to help advance the peace process between Israel and its neighbors. To do so, Minister Cannon said he will present the Prime Minister with a plan for the renewal of the multilateral refugee committee under Canadian auspices – as put forward by the Madrid convention.

President Peres thanked Minister Cannon and said in order to reach a solution to the refugee problem all parties must approach it in good faith: “Canada can contribute to the peace process and assist with one of the central issues in the negotiations between the State of Israel and the Palestinian People.”

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