EvanL
12-15-2003, 12:10 AM
http://www.canada.com/news/national/story.html?id=21FF302F-794A-405C-A0F4-EDB25699AF76
MICHELLE MACAFEE
Canadian Press
Sunday, December 14, 2003
Prime Minister Paul Martin speaks with reporters Sunday in his riding of Lasalle in Montreal. (CP/Ryan Remiorz)
CREDIT: (CP/Ryan Remiorz)
ADVERTISEMENT
MONTREAL (CP) - It's "very important for the world and for Canada" that the country participate in the reconstruction of Iraq, a project that will likely be accelerated with the capture of Saddam Hussein, Prime Minister Paul Martin said Sunday.
But Martin did not specify exactly how Canada might play a bigger role in the reconstruction effort.
An expected phone call Monday between Martin and U.S. President George W. Bush, which was scheduled before the weekend's dramatic developments, could clarify the extent of Canada's involvement.
Ottawa was taken aback last week when U.S. authorities served notice that countries that didn't participate in the U.S.-led war wouldn't be able to bid on many redevelopment contracts.
Before leaving office last week, then-prime minister Jean Chretien said Bush had indicated that could change - at least as far as Canada is concerned.
Martin has said he finds it odd that Canada, which has set aside $300 million in aid for Iraq, should be excluded from bidding.
"I think it's very important for the world and for Canada that we participate in the reconstruction of Iraq," Martin said before hosting several hundred supporters at a Christmas brunch in his Montreal riding of LaSalle-Emard.
"Now, with the possibility of great reconciliation within Iraq and much less fear that Saddam Hussein can come back, I think the reconstruction can really be accelerated."
Martin stressed Canada has already helped Iraq in its efforts to establish judicial and police systems.
Despite differences over the reconstruction contracts, Martin was quick to congratulate Bush and U.S. forces on the capture of Saddam.
In one of his first forays into international politics since his swearing-in on Friday, Martin sent telegrams to both Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"This is a great victory, obviously, for the coalition forces," said Martin. "But the biggest winners out of all of this are going to be the people of Iraq."
Martin, who supported Chretien's decision to abstain from the American-led war in Iraq, gave no indication Canada's military role in the region would change as a result of the capture.
The new prime minister was cautious on the question of whether Saddam should be tried in Iraq or elsewhere for crimes committed during his regime, saying there are a number of possible options.
"What's important is that he be tried before a tribunal that is just, that is creditable and that has international recognition," said Martin. "I'm sure that will be the case."
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, an expert on international law, suggested the government will tread carefully on the matter of what sort of tribunal should put Saddam on trial for past misdeeds.
"We're not on the front lines here," Cotler said in an interview on CBC Newsworld. "It is for the Iraqis first and foremost to make those kinds of determinations."
Cotler indicated, however, that Canada could offer the benefit of its experience with international tribunals that prosecuted crimes against humanity in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda.
Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper, who was critical of the Liberal government for staying out of the Iraq war, issued a statement in Ottawa lauding the "decisive action of our friends and allies."
Harper said the capture of Saddam marked a "great day for Iraqis, a great day for the coalition and a great day for those who were willing to stand up for what was right."
The Alliance leader called on Martin to put aside past Liberal opposition to the war and to work toward the restoration of prosperity and freedom in Iraq.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham called Sunday "a great day for democracy in Iraq."
Graham told a news conference in Toronto that Saddam's trial will be an opportunity to cleanse the Iraqi people and the region.
"We look forward to an open, transparent, internationally acceptable trial, which we know will take place, to deal with this man who has been a dictator, a brutalizer of his whole region," said Graham.
Martin's quick reaction to Sunday's events in Iraq wrapped up a busy first weekend for the new prime minister.
The focus was on domestic affairs Saturday when Martin held his first cabinet meeting in Ottawa.
Martin immediately cancelled the scandal-plagued federal sponsorship program.
The move seemingly puts distance between his government and the $40-million program that has already resulted in criminal charges and faces yet another scathing report in the coming weeks.
Chretien defended the program in the name of national unity - but once conceded that "perhaps there were a few million dollars . . . stolen in the process."
Martin also delivered on his promise to introduce tougher ethics guidelines for cabinet ministers and their parliamentary secretaries.
© Copyright 2003 The Canadian Press
MICHELLE MACAFEE
Canadian Press
Sunday, December 14, 2003
Prime Minister Paul Martin speaks with reporters Sunday in his riding of Lasalle in Montreal. (CP/Ryan Remiorz)
CREDIT: (CP/Ryan Remiorz)
ADVERTISEMENT
MONTREAL (CP) - It's "very important for the world and for Canada" that the country participate in the reconstruction of Iraq, a project that will likely be accelerated with the capture of Saddam Hussein, Prime Minister Paul Martin said Sunday.
But Martin did not specify exactly how Canada might play a bigger role in the reconstruction effort.
An expected phone call Monday between Martin and U.S. President George W. Bush, which was scheduled before the weekend's dramatic developments, could clarify the extent of Canada's involvement.
Ottawa was taken aback last week when U.S. authorities served notice that countries that didn't participate in the U.S.-led war wouldn't be able to bid on many redevelopment contracts.
Before leaving office last week, then-prime minister Jean Chretien said Bush had indicated that could change - at least as far as Canada is concerned.
Martin has said he finds it odd that Canada, which has set aside $300 million in aid for Iraq, should be excluded from bidding.
"I think it's very important for the world and for Canada that we participate in the reconstruction of Iraq," Martin said before hosting several hundred supporters at a Christmas brunch in his Montreal riding of LaSalle-Emard.
"Now, with the possibility of great reconciliation within Iraq and much less fear that Saddam Hussein can come back, I think the reconstruction can really be accelerated."
Martin stressed Canada has already helped Iraq in its efforts to establish judicial and police systems.
Despite differences over the reconstruction contracts, Martin was quick to congratulate Bush and U.S. forces on the capture of Saddam.
In one of his first forays into international politics since his swearing-in on Friday, Martin sent telegrams to both Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"This is a great victory, obviously, for the coalition forces," said Martin. "But the biggest winners out of all of this are going to be the people of Iraq."
Martin, who supported Chretien's decision to abstain from the American-led war in Iraq, gave no indication Canada's military role in the region would change as a result of the capture.
The new prime minister was cautious on the question of whether Saddam should be tried in Iraq or elsewhere for crimes committed during his regime, saying there are a number of possible options.
"What's important is that he be tried before a tribunal that is just, that is creditable and that has international recognition," said Martin. "I'm sure that will be the case."
Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, an expert on international law, suggested the government will tread carefully on the matter of what sort of tribunal should put Saddam on trial for past misdeeds.
"We're not on the front lines here," Cotler said in an interview on CBC Newsworld. "It is for the Iraqis first and foremost to make those kinds of determinations."
Cotler indicated, however, that Canada could offer the benefit of its experience with international tribunals that prosecuted crimes against humanity in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda.
Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper, who was critical of the Liberal government for staying out of the Iraq war, issued a statement in Ottawa lauding the "decisive action of our friends and allies."
Harper said the capture of Saddam marked a "great day for Iraqis, a great day for the coalition and a great day for those who were willing to stand up for what was right."
The Alliance leader called on Martin to put aside past Liberal opposition to the war and to work toward the restoration of prosperity and freedom in Iraq.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham called Sunday "a great day for democracy in Iraq."
Graham told a news conference in Toronto that Saddam's trial will be an opportunity to cleanse the Iraqi people and the region.
"We look forward to an open, transparent, internationally acceptable trial, which we know will take place, to deal with this man who has been a dictator, a brutalizer of his whole region," said Graham.
Martin's quick reaction to Sunday's events in Iraq wrapped up a busy first weekend for the new prime minister.
The focus was on domestic affairs Saturday when Martin held his first cabinet meeting in Ottawa.
Martin immediately cancelled the scandal-plagued federal sponsorship program.
The move seemingly puts distance between his government and the $40-million program that has already resulted in criminal charges and faces yet another scathing report in the coming weeks.
Chretien defended the program in the name of national unity - but once conceded that "perhaps there were a few million dollars . . . stolen in the process."
Martin also delivered on his promise to introduce tougher ethics guidelines for cabinet ministers and their parliamentary secretaries.
© Copyright 2003 The Canadian Press