DFAIT logo partnership The logo for the by design elab, an independent research development and production think tank specializing in online forums for policy development, incubated in 1997 at the McLuhan Program at the University of Toronto
Printer friendly version of: http://www.foreign-policy-dialogue.ca/en/discussion/index.php?m=1856

Values and Culture

Thank you for participating in the Dialogue on Foreign Policy. The interactive web site is now closed. The Minister's report will appear on this web site once it is released.

This Forum is bilingual, and participants post messages in their language of choice.


 

Canada's Proposal on Iraq and A Request from the Moderators for Comments in this Dialogue

Contributor: cfallon

Date: 2003-03-04 16:53:51


Canada's proposal is a good one and I am proud of the government for presenting a pragmatic solution to the current deadlock.

If this proposal is what Canada wants as a template for future foreign policy initiatives, then good! But what kind of template is it?

As I understand it, Canada is working hard to salvage the UN as a legitimate body with real principles, prepared to enforce its resolutions.

I would suggest that Canada should pursue structural reforms to the UN in the aftermath of this current crisis. The UN, even if we love it and want to preserve it, has been revealed to be not quite as effective or fair as we have presumed it to be.

For example, it does strike people as odd to see Lybia heading up the human rights commission. (Canada objected to this, as did the US. Canada should be proud of its stance.)

But what of the security council? The make-up of the council seems totally undemocratic. What mechanisms are in place to review who is a permanent member and who isn't?

Does anyone worry about the day when a non-permanent member of considerable military capability becomes annoyed with submitting to the "authority" of less significant, but permanent members of the security council?

Not very democratic.

Reply to this message

Show in topic

Canada's Proposal on Iraq and A Request from the Moderators for Comments in this Dialogue

Contributor: codc01

Date: 2003-03-07 14:34:28


Suite a la derniere reunion du Conseil de Securité, je crois que la position du Canada est la bonne, sauf en ce qui a trait à la date butoir, la date butoir devrais être déterminée par les inspecteurs (pour savoir combien de charge de travail il leur reste)...

Il faut aussi remarque que les positions des membres permanents se sont rapprochés. D'un côté la France est prête à réduire le délai des inspections, mais sans recours automatique à la force, alors que l'autre camp ,lui accorde un délai supplémentaire, mais insuffisant, avec recours automatique à la force si nécessaire.

Je ne peux pas croire que les deux positions ne puissent pas se rapprocher d'avantage. Au moins le Canada aura fait un effort constructif.


Reply to this message

Visit us online at: http://www.foreign-policy-dialogue.ca