Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Saturday said Canada cannot ignore human rights violations in francophone nations when they share not only a love of the French language, but several other values.
"All governments, without exception, must ensure their citizens good governance, the rule of law and respect of human rights," Harper said in a speech at the start of the two-day summit in Kinshasa.
He did not single out any particular country and is not expected to address the issue publicly.
Harper will have to tiptoe through a diplomatic minefield in order to not offend the host country, the CBC's Terry Milewski said from Kinshasha on Saturday.
"[His concerns] are likely not going to be discussed in very stark terms, certainly not in public."
On Friday, reporters asked Harper on what he might say or do about Congo's human rights record. They also asked Harper why he agreed to attend this summit, especially after threatening to boycott the next meeting of Commonwealth nations in Sri Lanka unless that country cleans up its human rights act.
He responded by saying Canada has already raised the issue of rights violations in the leadup to the summit.
"The Honorable Bernard Valcourt, our minister for the Francophonie, has already visited the DRC in the leadup to the summit, to express Canada's grave concerns on human rights violations in that country and other problems of democracy in governments," he said.
In the eastern parts of the Central African country, there are reports that armed groups are murdering and raping people with impunity.
"The average Congolese person never reaches the age of 50 and two-thirds of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day. Still, this is where the leaders will meet for the next two days to talk about peace," the CBC's Alison Crawford reported from Kinshasa.
On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande said "the situation (in Congo) is absolutely unacceptable in terms of human rights, democracy and the respect of the opposition," provoking Kinshasa's outrage.
The spokesperson for the Congolese government, Lambert Mende, said that it is for the Congolese people to accept or reject the situation in their own country and not for France to give lessons.
"When this man who has never set foot in our country say this kind of thing, that hurts us," said Yves, 35-year-old economics teacher in Kinshasa.
Harper held talks Saturday with Hollande. CBC's Terry Milewski said Hollande, is "almost but not quite snubbing this francophone summit," with plans to leave early, before nightfall Saturday.
Harper, Marois hold 1st face-to-face talks
Meanwhile, Harper and Pauline Marois had their first meeting on Saturday, just before the official opening of the two-day summit in Kinshasa, and the Quebec premier said it was "excellent."
''Very positive, very cordial, I'd say even almost warm,'' was how Marois described the 30-minute meeting.
Pauline Marois described her 30-minute meeting with Stephen Harper as very positive and cordial. Harper did not speak to reporters after the meeting and left the hotel by a back door.
Marois said she made it clear to Harper that her sovereignist government is ready to defend its interests and will seek the devolution of some powers and financial compensation — that those are issues for another day.
On this occasion, Marois said she told Harper she wants Quebec's cultural interests protected in the Canada-Europe free trade deal, and that the two levels of government must work together on helping diversify the economies of Quebec communities that have depended on the mining of asbestos.
Marois said she got the impression Harper was ready to listen and suggested agreements are still possible between the two governments despite their widely divergent political views.
The prime minister paid homage to Marois as Quebec's first female premier in a speech to summit leaders, saying she "recently wrote a page in history" with her election victory last month.
He also said Canadians are "very proud our diversity, both linguistic and cultural."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Harper raises human rights concerns at francophone summit
Dengan url
http://politikduniabarat.blogspot.com/2012/10/harper-raises-human-rights-concerns-at.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Harper raises human rights concerns at francophone summit
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Harper raises human rights concerns at francophone summit
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar