{"id":202518,"date":"2019-02-17T00:06:34","date_gmt":"2019-02-17T05:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=202518"},"modified":"2019-02-17T00:06:34","modified_gmt":"2019-02-17T05:06:34","slug":"international-rules-must-be-enforced-freeland-says-after-munich-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2019\/02\/17\/international-rules-must-be-enforced-freeland-says-after-munich-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"International rules must be enforced, Freeland says after Munich conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The approach is necessary as Canada strives to reinforce the \u201crules-based international order,\u201d Freeland said in a conference call with reporters as she wrapped up her time at the Munich Security Conference. (File Photo<\/a>: Chrystia Freeland\/Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Canada will continue to meet with like-minded nations as it aims to bridge divides between countries at a time of simmering international tensions, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said from Germany on Saturday.<\/p>\n

The approach is necessary as Canada strives to reinforce the \u201crules-based international order,\u201d Freeland said in a conference call with reporters as she wrapped up her time at the Munich Security Conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also think we need to … bring together specific coalitions around specific issues,\u201d she said, listing the Lima Group \u2014 which helped empower Venezuela’s opposition in its fight against President Nicolas Maduro \u2014 as an example of Canada doing just that.<\/p>\n

The group helped identify the politician Canada and its allies recognize as Venezuela’s real leader, Juan Guaido, as a contender to bring down Maduro’s regime.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is now a very long list of countries who have recognized Juan Guaido as interim president,\u201d she said. \u201cThat is a sign that the international community is coming together around democracy in Venezuela.\u201d<\/p>\n

But she added that Canada is not \u2014 and should not be \u2014 leading the fight against Maduro.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a process led by the people of Venezuela,\u201d she said. \u201cThey are the ones who need to win this effort. Our job as the international community is to support them, and that is very much what we’re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said that beyond seeking out like-minded countries, Canada will continue to name and shame those involved in human rights abuses, listing the country’s involvement in protesting the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar as an example of such an approach.<\/p>\n

The federal government has appointed former Liberal MP Bob Rae as Canada’s special envoy to Myanmar and pledged $300 million over the next three years to combat the crisis there. Last September, Parliament voted unanimously to strip Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, of her honorary Canadian citizenship for failing to stop the atrocities committed against the Rohingya people.<\/p>\n

Freeland’s public push for a rules-following international order also comes in the midst of an ongoing dispute between Canada and China, following what she called the superpower’s \u201carbitrary\u201d detention of two Canadians in apparent retaliation for Canada’s arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou.<\/p>\n

Freeland said the detention of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig was central to her discussion with Rob Malley, president of the International Crisis Group, and is yet another example of nations rallying together.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ICG has been a very important partner in working to build international support,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Numerous countries \u2014 including Germany, France, the Netherlands, the U.K., Australia, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia \u2014 have spoken against the men’s detention. Earlier this week in Munich, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said the American response had not been strong enough.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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