Press Release Department: Federal - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs) Diane Ablonczy (Calgary-Nosehill, AB) officially launched the first Ministerial Dialogue on the Americas, at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa. Ablonczy welcomed more than 100 representatives from the private sector, academia, think tanks, civil society organizations and government. The Ministerial Dialogue on the Americas gives … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, ON) and International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, BC) hailed a Canadian company’s winning bid for an important iron-ore mining contract in Afghanistan. Kilo Goldmines, a Toronto-based company, has been awarded one of the four concession blocks of the Hajigak iron-ore deposit in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province, as announced by the Afghan … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, ON) issued a statement condemning the storming of U.K. Embassy in Iran. Baird said Iranian authorities failed to uphold their serious responsibilities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, namely, to safeguard diplomatic premises and ensure the safety of internationally protected persons. Baird added that Canadian officials have summoned … Read more

International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, BC) marked the conclusion of the eighth round of Canada-European Union free trade negotiations, which took place during the week of November 28, in Brussels, by highlighting the progress made to date. Fast said Canada is making important progress as the government moves closer toward an agreement that has the … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, ON) issued a statement on Arab League’s courageous decision to put sanctions on the Assad regime. Baird said Canada is encouraged to hear of the Arab League’s plans to engage with the United Nations. Baird added the senseless violence occurring in Syria can no longer be ignored by the … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, ON) condemned the conviction by Belarus of Ales Byalyatski, a long-time human rights defender and head of the human rights organization Vyasna. Baird said Canada unequivocally condemns the conviction of Byalyatski and considers this verdict to be politically motivated. Baird added the verdict reconfirms Canada's view that the … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, ON) stated Canada welcomes the agreement signed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen to step down from power in 30 days. Baird said Canada is looking to the President and the interim leadership to respect this agreement, which calls for free, fair and transparent elections to be held in the next 90 … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, ON) concluded a highly successful visit to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, where he took part in discussions about important developments in the Middle East and North Africa region. In the UAE for the Sir Bani Yas Forum, Baird met with his counterpart Sheikh Abdallah Bin Zayed … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, ON) announced additional sanctions against Iran. Baird said Canada is implementing, as of right now, a series of even tougher measures under the Special Economic Measures Act. These expanded sanctions prohibit almost all financial transactions with the Iranian government, add individuals and entities to the list of designated … Read more

International Trade Minister Ed Fast (Abbotsford, BC) and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz (Battlefords-Lloydminster, SK) met with livestock producers and processors at Soderglen Ranches Ltd., one of Canada’s largest purebred seedstock cattle ranches. The ministers welcomed the clear victory for Canada’s livestock industry represented by the WTO ruling that the U.S. Country-of-Origin Labelling measure is inconsistent … Read more