Fever Pitch: the Politics of Games

A Diplomat Q&A: The world according to Iran

Spring 12| APR–JUN

Fever pitch: the politics of games

From fascist provocations to nationalistic excesses: Games that altered history

PLUS: Britain’s austerity Olympics

Larry C. Napper on Putin's pugnacious Russia James Parker on Canada's mentors in Kabul Destinations: Ukraine as a top tourist hot spot

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Volume 23, Ntumber 2 PUBLISHER Donna Jacobs ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Neil Reynolds Table of EDITOR Jennifer Campbell ART DIRECTOR Paul Cavanaugh BOOKS EDITOR CONTENTS George Fetherling CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DIPLOMATICA| Don Cayo Verbatim: Cartoons from around the world ...... 12 CULTURE EDITOR Margo Roston Fen Hampson: In search of strong leaders ...... 16 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Larry C . Napper: Putin’s complex Russia ...... 18 Kahled Bahah Wolfgang Depner David Kilgour: Compassion for Camp Ashraf ...... 21 Margaret Dickenson Verbatim: The case for Scottish independence ...... 23 Fen Osler Hampson David Haglund Questions Asked: Canada’s youngest Commons speaker ...... 26 Peg Herbert Notes from the field: Help Lesotho’s gender work ...... 30 Natalia Holub David Kilgour Good deeds: The ODA’s ski day helps aboriginal centre ...... 32 Larry Napper Trade Winds: Belarus makes its case for investment ...... 33 Laura Neilson Bonikowsky James Parker Diplomatic Agenda: Britain’s 2012 austerity Olympics ...... 34 Elida Petoshati Andrew Pocock DISPATCHES| Roman Sobolev Pieter Van den Weghe Top 10 most political sporting events ...... 36 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS James Parker: Confessions of a mentor in Afghanistan ...... 46 Ulle Baum Sam Garcia David Haglund: The NATO alliance is in it for good ...... 52 Serge Gouin Yemen: A rebel ambassador bets on the future ...... 56 Dyanne Wilson Business Management Iran: Tough talk from Iran’s top man in Canada ...... 59 Jessie Reynolds WEBMASTER DELIGHTS| Gilles Laberge, www redrocket. ca. DIPLOPORTAL WEB PARTNERS Books: Four famous French writers ...... 67 www .diploportal .com Canadiana: Gov . Simcoe’s strategic route ...... 73 Alastair Sweeny Richard Evers Entertaining: Norway’s way ...... 74 (Northern Blue Publishing) Residences: Egypt’s amazing reno ...... 76 PUBLISHER EMERITUS Lezlee Cribb Envoy’s album ...... 80 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES National days listing ...... 85 Contact Donna Jacobs Wine: Sensational sake ...... 92 donnajacobs@gmail com. SUBSCRIPTIONS Diplomat & International Canada is published four DIGNITARIES| times a year . Subscription rates: individual, one year $35 70. . For Canadian orders add 13 per cent HST . New arrivals in the diplomatic corps ...... 84 U S. . orders please add $15 for postage . All other orders please add $25 . DIPLOMATIC LISTINGS ...... 86 SUBMISSIONS Diplomat & International Canada welcomes submissions . Contact Jennifer destinations| Campbell, editor, at editor@ Visit Ukraine, in time for EURO 2012 ...... 93 diplomatonline com. or (613) 231- 8476 . From sun to sea, Albania has it all ...... 97 DIPLOMAT & INTERNATIONAL CANADA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED . The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material . P O. Box 1173, Station B No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the pub- Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1P 5R2 lisher . The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors . © 2007 ISSN 1190-8343 Publication Phone: (613) 422-5262 E-mail: info@diplomatonline com. Mail # 40957514 . Return undeliverable Canadian copies to: Diplomat Magazine, www.diplomatonline.com P O. . Box 1173, Station B, Ottawa, ON K1P 5R2 Published by Sparrow House Enterprises Inc .

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MANULIFEdiplomat_PEOPLEmar2012.indd 1 12-03-15 2:49 PM EDITOR’S NOTE |DIPLOMATICA

Iran’s man in Ottawa . Ever since Zahra CONTRIBUTORS Kazemi, a Canadian citizen, died in custody after she was detained for taking pic- Larry C. Napper tures outside Iran’s notorious Evin prison, Ambassador (ret’d) Iran’s relations with Canada have been Larry C . Napper is strained . Mr . Sheikh-Hassani answers the a senior lecturer at often challenging questions of Diplomat the George Bush publisher Donna Jacobs . Read this inter- School of Govern- view on page 59 . ment and Public

jennifer campbell Also in our Dispatches section, you’ll Service at Texas find Yemeni Ambassador Khaled Bahah’s A&M University take on what’s happened in his country and director of the Olympic fever over the past year, and how he sees its Scowcroft Institute of International Af- prospects following the March installa- fairs . In 2005, he completed a 31-year tion, as president, of former vice-president career in the U S. . foreign service, in- he clock in London’s Trafalgar Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi . cluding ambassadorships in Kazakh- Square is counting down the hours Speaking of leaders, we also have a stan (2001-2004) and Latvia (1995-98) . Tuntil the British capital hosts the piece on Russia’s tenacious president- From 1998-2001, he was coordinator world’s biggest sporting event (July 27– once-again . Having taken his constitution- for assistance to Central Europe and Aug . 12) . You can check out British High ally mandated one-term break, Vladimir the Balkans . From 1991-1994, he di- Commissioner Andrew Pocock’s report Putin is back in power (and not just pull- rected the State Department’s office of on “the Austerity Games” on page 34 . ing the strings as prime minister, which Soviet Union affairs, establishing em- Here at Diplomat, though, we’re doing a many claim he did during Dmitry Med- bassies in each of the successor states count of a different sort . In anticipation vedev’s presidency ). Our distinguished of the USSr . From 1974-1994, Mr . of the XXX Olympiad, our resident aca- writer, American career diplomat Larry Napper served in Romania, Moscow, demic and list-maker looked at the close C . Napper looks at what Putin’s new term Botswana and Washington . relationship between sport and politics . means for Russia and the West . Wolfgang Depner produced a story on Up front, besides my interview with An- David G. Haglund the Top 10 sporting events with political drew Scheer, Canada’s youngest-ever Com- Mr . Haglund is a dimensions . The list includes a fun tale mons speaker, we have a piece by David professor of po- of Sino-American diplomacy — how ping Kilgour supporting the rights of some 3,000 litical studies at pong (1972) brought China’s Mao Tse-tung Iranian refugees at Camp Ashraf in Iraq . Queen’s Univer- and America’s Richard Nixon together . In our Delights section, food writer sity (Kingston, On- But the list also includes the tragic Mu- Margaret Dickenson dropped in on Nor- tario) . His research nich Massacre in the same year, when the wegian Ambassador Else Berit Eikeland focuses on trans- Palestinian group Black September took who shared one of her country’s culinary atlantic security 11 members of the Israeli team hostage to traditions — marinated salmon . Marga- and on Canadian press for the freedom of their comrades . ret’s version of the recipe appears with her and American international security The situation exploded into a shoot-out column . Our residences feature takes us to policy . He co-edits the International between German authorities and the the extensively and elegantly renovated Journal . Among his books are Latin terrorists . In the end, all 11 Israelis were Rockcliffe home of Egyptian Ambassador America and the Transformation of U.S. killed, along with one German police of- Wael Aboul-Magd . Strategic Thought, 1936-1940 (1984), ficer and five abductors . Our history feature, by Laura Neilson and Over Here and Over There: Canada- Each of the 10 events on our list contrib- Bonikowsky, tells the story of Toronto’s US Defence Cooperation in an Era of utes its own unique historical perspective Yonge Street, and wine writer Pieter Van Interoperability (2001) . His current re- and reveals interesting things about inter- den Weghe takes us to Japan to savour search project examines ethnic diaspo- national sport . For our cover story, turn to some sake . Our travel features offer arm- ras in North America and their impact page 36 . chair tours of Albania and Ukraine . Have upon security relations between the Also in our Dispatches section, you’ll a great trip! United States and Canada . find a wide-ranging and eye-opening interview with Kambiz Sheikh-Hassani, Jennifer Campbell is Diplomat’s editor .

UP FRONT Correction Our cover image, which has Diplomat apologizes to He- the flag of England as its back- lene Champagne, a tourism drop, shows a face-painted assistant at the Tanzanian fan ready for the London 2012 high commission, who took Games . Our cover story, on this photo of a leopard in the the Top 10 sporting events Serengeti . We failed to credit with political overtones, be- her work in the January 2012 gins on page 36 . issue .

diplomat and international canada 11 DIPLOMATICA|CARTOONS

Political commentary from around the world

“Uncle Sam strategy” by Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE “Putin and al-Assad” by Riber Hansson, Sweden

“Greece” by David Fitzsimmons, The Arizona Daily Star, U.S. “Are You Better Off?” by R.J. Matson, The St. Louis Post Dispatch, U.S.

12 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN CARTOONS|DIPLOMATICA

“Davos World Economic Forum” by Petar Pismestrovic, Kleine Zei- “Love is in the air” by Olle Johansson, Sweden tung, Austria

“Islamic Spring” by Emad Hajjaj, Jordan “Count Barackula” by Gary McCoy, Cagle Cartoons

“Greece and Europe” by Frederick Deligne, Nice- Matin, France

“Hell's Angela” by Frederick Deligne, Nice-Matin, France

diplomat and international canada 13 DIPLOMATICA|CARTOONS

“Elections” by Pavel Constantin, Romania

“Bullfight” by Luojie, China Daily, China

“Syria Dominoes” by Deng Coy Miel, Singa- pore

“Canada Pandas” by Cameron Cardow, Ot- tawa Citizen, Canada

“Greece Ten and Out” by Olle Johansson, Sweden “Illegal Immigration” by Rick McKee, The Augusta Chronicle, U.S.

14 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN CARTOONS|DIPLOMATICA

Courtesy of CagleCartoons.com

“Victim” by Luojie, China Daily, China

“Democracy” by Pavel Constantin, Romania

“CELAC” (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) by Kap, Spain

“Pipeline Knot” by Nate Beeler, The Washington Examiner, U.S.

“Job for Libyan fighters” by Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE

“Election games — China Bashing” by Luojie, China Daily, China “Strait of Hormuz” by Osama Hajjaj, Abu Mahjoob Creative Productions, Jordan

diplomat and international canada 15 DIPLOMATICA|Foreign Affairs

A rudderless world

India is an unruly and unmanageable democracy, more inward-looking than worldly in its words and deeds . The majority of its voters still live in abject poverty and yet it is they who are the most politically engaged, thus giving rise to populist politics and policies that threaten the extraordinary gains the country has made under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s able leadership . India’s rapidly fen Osler hAmpson growing middle class is only just beginning to shed its apathy as it recognizes the mounting costs of political non-engage- he revolutions of the Arab Spring ment to its own interests, but this is a new have been called “leaderless revolu- development . Ttions” because they were populist China, the world’s economic jugger- uprisings without clear leadership . There U.S. President Ronald Reagan greets Soviet naut, is mercurial, defensive and secre- is no equivalent to a Bourguiba, Ataturk, Union President Mikhail Gorbachev tive . Its habits are the result of a deeply Sukarno, Nkrumah, Nyerere, Ho Chi ingrained Confucian-Taoist culture rein- Minh, Gandhi, Houphouet-Boigny or reclamation of territory under foreign rule forced by years of one-party Communist Mandela in the ranks of the protesters in based on ethnic composition or historic rule . As China asserts itself militarily in Tahrir Square, or in other Arab capitals, boundaries] . Continuing threats come the South China Seas, and economically who can rally his or her people at a key from terrorism groups such as al-Qaeda, in resource-rich regions such as Africa, its moment of national crisis and transforma- which have extended their toehold into growing global presence is seen in many tion . sub-Saharan Africa, into countries such as quarters as menacing and unpredictable . The Twitter revolutions of the Arab Nigeria and Niger; the unbridled nuclear China’s expected new leadership also con- world are symptomatic of our rudderless ambitions of renegade states such as Iran fronts ongoing domestic upheaval that, in world — a world that stands in stark con- and North Korea, which threaten their the age of the internet, is increasingly dif- trast to earlier eras of profound political neighbours; the prospect of war in the ficult to suppress and control . upheaval and transformation in which Middle East; and a global economy that Alas, Russia had more inspiring leader- new leadership emerged to guide and sputters and stalls as it lurches from one ship during the final days of Communist shape the forces of change . major crisis to another . rule than it does now . The old KGB appa- Western capitals are generally no better It is a world that is also being under- ratchiks, still a dominant force in Russian off . Our world today is bereft of the kind mined by social media, which is contrib- political and economic life, are wearing of leadership Europe had in a Metternich, uting to the leadership deficit . The social thin on an electorate that has grown weary Talleyrand, or Castlereagh in the after- media is a haven for extreme, emotional of the Putin-Medvedev political condo- math of Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, or views that contribute to a sharp polariza- minium . Although Putin was re-elected in a Roosevelt, Churchill or George Mar- tion of attitudes generally, overwhelm- in the March 4 presidential elections, his shall as the Second World War ended with ing much middle-of-the-road thinking . position has been weakened and he may Hitler’s defeat . Consider the Republican campaign for a try to be more assertive in Russia’s deal- Admittedly, under the presidencies U S. . presidential candidate, for example . ings with the United States and Europe to of Ronald Reagan and George Herbert Politicians in democracies — from Greece bolster his standing at home . Walker Bush, there were strong hands at to Italy to Ontario — are also ducking The Old World has serious problems the tiller . Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret their responsibilities and handing more too . Europe is struggling to find its footing Thatcher and Brian Mulroney also deserve decision-making over to technocrats . This as it contends with mountains of public credit for their own contributions to en- technocratic trend, together with the rav- debt in its Mediterranean-rim members . suring that the Cold War ended not with ages of prolonged recession and the brutal The performance of the Merkel-Sarkozy a nuclear bang, as many feared it would, policy remedies now required, are sap- duo has been less than stellar in their joint but with a whimper . ping support for both market capitalism efforts to save the Euro . The German chan- In a peaceful, stable and prosperous and basic democracy . Beware the conse- cellor is hobbled by her own domestic world, a global leadership deficit would quences . coalition partners who, like the German not matter . When times are good, the The global leadership deficit extends people, refuse to recognize that Germany’s world can run on the energy and talents to both traditional and emergent interna- prosperity was built on the profligate of ordinary citizens . Our world, however, tional powers, even as the global balance spending habits of Italy, Greece, Spain and is threatened by many new challenges: of power shifts from the United States, Portugal . The French president is battling among them, religious extremism, un- which, until now, has been the engine of for his own re-election against the Socialist bridled sectarianism and irredentism [the world growth and prosperity . Party, which wants to turn the clock back,

16 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN Foreign Affairs|DIPLOMATICA

not forward, by reintroducing many of the kind of global role . It may be on the mend, The disconcert of nations extends to economic policies that got France into the but the fabric is weak . It can take some the Asian subcontinent where India and mess it is in now, including the 35-hour pride in having successfully “led from Pakistan prey on each other’s existential work week . The irony is that Sarkozy, behind” in the NATO-led, campaign to fears and, in the process, further destabi- despite his many failings, is France’s best oust Libya’s Muammar Gadhafi . How- lize their own neighbourhood, especially hope for delivering the tough fiscal medi- ever, Libya is far from over and by no in Afghanistan . Although Prime Minister cine that the country needs if it is not to means better yet . America’s inability to Singh has made some modest overtures suffer the same fate as its Mediterranean cauterize the oldest and deepest wound to soothe relations between the two coun- neighbours . in the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian tries in recent years, he, too, is a hostage to The world’s greatest military power conflict, is a further sign of its inability to India’s domestic politics and old antago- and economy is clearly “down” but not lead . So, too, is the apparent lack of any nisms and rivalries . “out ”. The U S. . economy appears to be on effective and coherent plan to deal with One searches the diplomatic landscape the mend . President Obama has brought Iran as the Persian Gulf moves ever closer in vain for today’s equivalent to a Met- U S. . troops home from Iraq . Those in to armed conflict . ternich, a Roosevelt, a Churchill, or even a Afghanistan will soon follow . Under Many believe Israel will attack Iran to Henry Kissinger or a James Baker (George President Obama, the United States has neutralize its nuclear weapons program H W. . Bush’s extremely able secretary of announced it will shift its military posture sooner rather than later . Prime Minister state) . Such leadership is needed before towards Asia and clearly has China in its Benjamin Netanyahu and his defence we fall into the abyss in the Middle East/ sights as it now tries to play the role of minister, Ehud Barak, are doing little to Persian Gulf or South Asia where events military offshore balancer by reinvigorat- dispel doubts that they will launch an are spinning out of control . ing its traditional — and until now largely assault . The clock is running out as Iran We also need sound diplomacy and neglected — alliances with Japan, Korea approaches the point of no return in ac- deft political leadership to channel the and Southeast Asia . quiring a nuclear capability . But this is not ambitions of rising powers, such as China, Nevertheless, Obama’s greatest failing the region’s only flash point . Instability India, and Russia, into constructive global is his inexperience and his inability to ex- and violence are running rampant in Syria pursuits even when their apparent inter- ercise power . In his first two years, when as Bashir al-Assad’s brutal regime esca- ests run at cross-purposes with our own . he had a majority in both Houses, he lates attacks on al-Assad’s own people . squandered much of his political capital There is a risk of a double implosion if Fen Hampson is Chancellor’s Professor much like Bill Clinton — and with some al-Assad attacks Israel to avert his own and Director of The Norman Paterson of the same advisers . America seems to downfall by attempting to rally the Arab School of International Affairs, Carleton have lost confidence in itself and in any world to his defence . University .

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diplomat and international canada 17 DIPLOMATICA|Russia

A pugnacious Putin, an assertive Russia By Larry C. Napper photo UN Prior to Russia’s March election, Vladimir Putin wrote that “true democracy is not created overnight.”

ladimir Putin began a Feb . 8 op- had assured a Putin victory . The Kremlin- at polling places throughout Russia . In ed in The Washington Post with controlled Central Election Commission many cases, these observers were able to Vthe following statement: “True denied registration to potentially strong conduct informal exit polling with which democracy is not created overnight . opposition candidates . Local officials the official vote tallies by the Kremlin- Society must be ready for democratic throughout Russia impeded efforts by controlled Central Election Commission mechanisms . The majority of the popula- candidates to get their messages to Rus- can be compared . If, as seems likely, there tion must feel they are citizens and be sian voters . National television, still will be significant disparities between ready to devote attention, time, and effort the source of news for most Russians, exit polling and the official results, this to participating in the process of govern- remained under firm Kremlin control . will undoubtedly fuel more street pro- ment ”. The previous Saturday, Feb . 4, tens While there are allegations of widespread tests, such as the March 5 Pushkin Square of thousands of Russians did precisely manipulation of the voting, stuffing of bal- demonstration, which was broken up by that, braving sub-zero temperatures to lot boxes was hardly necessary to achieve security forces who arrested hundreds participate in the largest demonstrations a Putin victory . As the observer mission of demonstrators . Some observers have in the streets of Moscow, St . Petersburg from the Organization for Security and suggested that the public unrest preced- and other Russian cities since 1991, to Cooperation in Europe concluded: “There ing and following the election signals the protest Putin’s candidacy in the presiden- was no real competition and abuse of eventual end of Putin’s dominance of the tial election scheduled for March 4 . The government resources ensured that the “vertical of power” — Kremlin control vast majority of the demonstrators would ultimate winner was never in doubt ”. over Russia’s politics, economy, and inter- have found laughable Putin’s assertion of President Obama waited five days before national affairs . While predictions of the interest in the promotion of democracy in congratulating Putin during a phone call, demise of “Putinism” may be premature, Russia, as they hold him responsible for while a written State Department press the young, educated, middle-class dem- the erosion of progress toward democ- release congratulated “the Russian people onstrators in Russia’s streets have clearly racy since he succeeded Boris Yeltsin as on the completion of the presidential elec- signaled that they intend to press for a president . tions ”. more modern, complex, and democratic The result of the March 4 presidential There were some positives that political order in Russia . Putin may have election, a Putin victory with 64 percent of emerged from the Russian presidential to find ways to accommodate at least the vote, was a foregone conclusion . Even election . The most encouraging develop- some of their demands . before ballots were cast and counted, a ment was the presence of thousands of Despite official Washington’s decidedly wide array of “administrative measures” young people as voluntary observers frosty response to the election, the United

18 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN Russia|DIPLOMATICA uropa uropa E U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper could find Mr. Putin more hard-edged and publicly assertive.

States and Canada will have no choice dence on unstable global oil prices . Russia not want another Libya-style intervention but to find a way to work with Russia . faces a demographic crisis that could very in Syria, which could create more unwel- Vladimir Putin will decisively move back likely result in a catastrophic collapse of come precedents for Russian and China into the international role he played from the Russian population by mid-century . as they deal with restive regions such as 2000-2008, engaging the American presi- Yet, despite all these structural weak- the North Caucasus, Xinjiang and Tibet . dent, Canadian prime minister and other nesses, reports of the death of Russia as Calls by Senator John McCain for a U S. -. world leaders with energy and skill . Mr . a great power are almost certainly exag- led bombing campaign against Assad’s Obama and Mr . Harper will find Putin gerated . forces are likely to further elevate anxiet- more hard-edged, more publicly assertive, On the same day that Russians marched ies in Moscow and Beijing . With Putin’s and more personally decisive than Dmitry through their cities in anti-Putin demon- re-election now secured, the U S. . is certain Medvedev, who always had to look over strations, the Russian Federation joined to take a fresh run at obtaining Russia’s his shoulder at Prime Minister Putin . China in vetoing a UN Security Council support for a modified, but still tough, While the substance of Russian foreign Resolution, which would have called upon UN Security Council resolution on Syria . policy is unlikely to change dramatically, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to halt This will be an early test of Putin’s likely the pugnacious charisma that once made the military assault on his own people, approach to handling relations with the Putin Time Magazine’s Man of the Year will and to begin a transition leading to his United States on a wide variety of issues . be back on the world stage . departure from power . Within a couple of Just as with the Syrian crisis, interna- Putin will be playing perhaps the weak- days of the veto, Russian Foreign Minister tional efforts to halt Iran’s drive to develop est hand of any competitor aspiring to Sergei Lavrov visited Damascus, wel- a nuclear weapons capability would stand a seat at the table of the “great powers ”. comed by a boisterous pro-Assad demon- a better chance of success with active Rus- Despite its still impressive nuclear arsenal, stration, while Russian-built Syrian tanks sian support and assistance . American Russia’s military forces lack global reach relentlessly bombarded the city of Homs . efforts to restrain Russian nuclear cooper- and would find it very difficult to achieve If, as reported by Russian media, Lavrov ation with Iran go back to President Clin- decisive superiority in possible conflicts used his meetings with Assad to urge that ton’s negotiations with Boris Yeltsin in the along Russia’s periphery, especially in the Syrian dictator halt the violence and mid-1990s . Then, as now, Russian interest Northeast Asia . While buoyed by current enter serious negotiations with the Syrian in discouraging Tehran from pursuing high energy prices, the Russian economy opposition, the Russian foreign minister nuclear weapons is balanced by the finan- lacks diversification and will encounter clearly failed . The Russian veto, however, cial interests of influential Russian enter- new challenges in adapting to the re- angered the U S. . and other Security Coun- prises in doing business of all kinds with quirements of Russia’s accession to the cil Permanent Members (China excepted) Iran . It seems highly unlikely that Russia, rules-based World Trade Organization . and antagonized the Arab League, Turkey, and China as well, can be induced to sup- Immediately following the March 4 elec- and virtually every one of Syria’s neigh- port further rounds of sanctions on Iran tion, the international credit rating agency bours, except Iran . in the UN Security Council . It remains to Fitch warned that Russia’s credit rating The veto and Lavrov’s visit sought to be seen whether Russian firms, with the could be downgraded because of the ex- protect the last of Russia’s Cold War-era tacit acquiescence of the Kremlin, will seek travagant promises of social spending Pu- Middle East partners, once tied to Moscow to evade or challenge tightened U S. . and tin made during his campaign . Fitch noted by a network of arms sales arrangements, EU sanctions on Iran . If Russian state or that Russia’s fiscal “break-even point” for loose treaties of friendship and coopera- private enterprises do seek to circumvent the price of its oil exports is $117/barrel, tion, and shared enmity toward the U S. . Western sanctions, they could well find further underscoring Moscow’s depen- and Israel . Moscow and Beijing clearly do themselves also caught up in the sanctions

diplomat and international canada 19 DIPLOMATICA|Russia

net, with obvious adverse implications heads below the level of 1,550 prescribed for Moscow’s relations with Washington by the New Start Treaty, which went into and Brussels . Russian interests would not effect in 2011 . Some options reportedly be served by a nuclear-armed Iran or a under consideration would reduce the confrontation in the Gulf that resulted in number of U S. . strategic nuclear warheads American or Israeli attacks in close prox- to 300-400, the number deployed in the imity to Russia’s southern borders and 1950s . While the Obama Administration its restive North Caucasus region . But if would prefer to achieve further warhead possible renewed negotiations between reductions through negotiations with Tehran and the P-5+1 countries [UN Se- Russia, prospects for agreement on new curity Council permanent members U S. ,. nuclear arms reductions appear dim until United Kingdom, France, Russian Fed- presidential politics are sorted out in the eration, China + Germany] fail, Moscow United States . Even then, it is difficult to could face an unpredictable scenario to its see how warhead levels could be further south over which it would have little or no substantially reduced without restructur- influence . ing of forces on both sides and without

As a major energy supplier to Europe dreamstime accounting for the current and possible and Asia, Russia is both a potential part- The Kremlin future nuclear forces of other states, inner and competitor with Canada and the cluding China . On the U S. . side, any new United States . If Canada succeeds in build- of Russian gas that Ukraine is obliged to arms reduction treaty with Russia would ing its proposed oil pipeline to the Pacific, purchase . While these negotiations remain face the daunting requirement for ratifica- it will eventually find itself in a high- bogged down, a near-term breakdown tion by a two-thirds majority in the Sen- stakes competition with Russia, and other and face-off over gas deliveries to Ukraine ate, in the face of virtually certain strong potential suppliers, in the Chinese market . and Europe does not appear to be immi- opposition from Republican senators . The For two decades, Russia and China have nent . It remains to be seen whether the EU interest of both the U S. . and Russia in a been engaged in near continuous negotia- and Ukraine will take advantage of this follow-on Start agreement is driven by tions on the terms of pipeline construction period of relative stability of gas deliveries the escalating costs of maintaining their and delivery of Russian natural gas to to begin to reduce their long-term depen- nuclear arsenals and budget constraints in China . Canada’s entry into the East Asian dence on Russian gas or to complete pro- both countries . But negotiations could be energy sweepstakes is likely to be viewed posed free-trade and visa-free agreements complicated by Russian opposition to the by Beijing as yet another source of lever- between Brussels and Kiev . deployment of American ballistic missile age useful with other potential suppliers, With Putin’s return to the Russian defense systems in Europe and the Middle including Russia . Competition for Arctic presidency and the U S. . facing presiden- East . energy resources will also involve Canada tial elections in 2012, future prospects for There remain other areas of U S. -. Rus- and the United States with Russia . Given the Obama’s Administration’s “reset” sian collaboration, notably in space, as, for its geographic position in the Far North, of relations with Russia seem uncertain . the next several years, the only means for it is difficult to envisage a cooperative Following the high-water mark of ratifica- U S. . astronauts to get to the international regime for Arctic security and safe and ef- tion of the U S. -. Russia New Start Treaty space station is aboard Russian Soyuz fective development of Arctic energy within 2010, the “reset” appears to have fallen rockets . There are also bilateral irritants out a network of bilateral and multilateral on hard times, in part due to serious from the frosty reception in the Kremlin- arrangements including Russia . disagreements on how to deal with Syria controlled Russian press of the new During one of the coldest European and Iran . Russia and the U S. . did achieve American Ambassador Michael McFaul to winters on record, Russia did not resort success in clearing the last hurdles for a threatened cutoff of American adoptions to a cut-off of gas supplies to Europe via Russian accession to the World Trade Or- of Russian children . Recent bitter criticism Ukraine, despite ongoing disputes over ganization, approved Dec . 16, 2011 at the of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the the gas deal reached in 2009 between WTO Ministerial . Russian ratification of Russia press is yet another indication of Putin and then Ukrainian Prime Minister the deal seems certain, thus meeting the the current strained state of U S. -. Russia Yulia Tymoshenko . This relative period end-of-2011 deadline set by Washington relations . While relations with Russia have of stability in Russian gas exports via and Moscow for completing Russia’s not yet figured prominently in the U S. . pipelines through Ukraine and Belarus is 18-year WTO accession marathon . How- presidential election, this could change the result of the political ascendency of a ever, Washington must seek a congres- as Putin takes office and begins to bring Ukrainian government under President sional vote on repeal of the Cold War-era a tougher tone to Russian foreign policy . Viktor Yanukovych more inclined toward Jackson-Vanik amendment and extension Whoever takes the oath as U S. . President Russian interests than its predecessors of Permanent Normal Trade Relations in January 2013 will find his in-basket full under the former Western-oriented Presi- (PNTR) to Russia . Prospects for congres- of prickly issues requiring engagement dent Viktor Yushchenko and Tymoshenko . sional approve of PNTR for Russia were with Vladimir Putin . Although Yanukovych’s government is already tenuous at best and will not be faltering due to economic mismanage- helped by the outcome and conduct of the Ambassador Larry C . Napper (ret’d) is ment and political miscalculations, he has Russian presidential election . director of the Scowcroft Institute of In- sought concessions from Moscow on pric- The Obama Administration is report- ternational Affairs, George Bush School ing of Russian gas to Ukraine, transit fees edly considering further reductions in of Government and Public Service, Texas for Russian gas to Europe, and the amount American-deployed strategic nuclear war- A&M University .

20 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN DEBATE|DIPLOMATICA

Preventing a slaughter of refugees By David Kilgour

amp Ashraf was created in an Iraqi desert by several thousand CIranians, who in 1980 fled from the terror unleashed on them across Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini . Supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), founded in the 1960s by left- ist university students, they had actively opposed the regimes of the shah and the clerics, at times using violence themselves . Tens of thousands of them were executed by the Khomeini regime when it seized power in 1979 . In 1986, Paris ex- pelled those seeking asylum in France in order to obtain the release of some French soldiers captured by Tehran proxies in Lebanon . Only Saddam Hussein’s regime would accept them, so they reluctantly re- dreamstime located to Iraq . The PMOI kept Saddam at arm’s length and was neutral during the Iranians demonstrate in front of the U.S. embassy in Berlin last fall, calling on the U.S. to protect Iranian refugees inside Ashraf Camp, Iraq. invasion of Iraq in 2003 . Following the coalition forces’ attack, all Ashraf residents voluntarily disarmed Canada to push for a UN Security Council age other governments to extend a similar and were declared “protected persons” resolution to locate a protective force at offer, thereby providing enough interna- under the Fourth Geneva Convention at Ashraf . tional pressure to obtain sufficient time for the request of the American government . Elham Zanjani went from her home the UN High Commissioner for Refugees They were subsequently guarded by U S. . and university studies in Toronto to to process all refugee applicants . soldiers . Their personal security collapsed, Ashraf in 1999 at the age of 20 . In her In 1997, as a goodwill gesture to the however, when the U S. . in 2009 handed words, she was wounded in an April 2011 new Khatami government in Tehran, the off protection under the Convention to the attack: “when an Iraqi soldier threw a gre- Clinton administration added the PMOI heavily Tehran-influenced government nade at me . The day before the attack, the to the U S. . State Department’s list of ter- of Nouri al-Maliki . Ignoring successor U S. . embassy in Baghdad told us that the rorist organizations . Paul Martin as prime obligations under international law, his Iraqi forces were going to launch an oper- minister proscribed the PMOI in Canada forces have since attacked the camp twice, ation . Despite our pleas to the commander in 2005; the Harper government recently killing 47 and wounding more than 1,000 of U S. . forces to stay, his unit was ordered extended the ban for another two years . unarmed men and women . out of the camp . That left us completely In Europe, seven courts have meanwhile defenseless in the face of a massive assault ruled a similar designation “perverse” and Ashraf Canadians by the Iraqi forces ”. removed it for all 27 EU governments . De- Late in 2011, I met in Ottawa with nine Al-Maliki wrote as 2011 ended: “I spite the U S. . federal appeal court ruling Canadian citizens of Iranian origin who would like to see this complex issue in July 2010 ordering the designation to be are former residents of Ashraf . Despite (Ashraf) resolved peacefully and with the reviewed, the U S. . State Department has the escalating threat to their own lives as help of the United Nations . The camp’s yet to make a decision . al-Maliki threatened to destroy the camp residents are classified as a terrorist orga- Col . Gary Morsch, who served as a before the end of 2011, they were all re- nization by many countries and thus have U S. . battalion surgeon at Ashraf, told a luctant to leave the 3,400 other refugees no legal basis to remain ”. Unfortunately, Congressional hearing last July: “There behind . They stressed that the others have his words are hollow . Four days before were no findings of any terrorist activi- no other country that will currently accept the second massacre at Ashraf, he assured ties, illegal activities, coercion of (PMOI) them, and would doubtless all be killed if American diplomats in Baghdad that he members, hidden arms, or evidence that returned to Tehran . would not attack the camp . (they) were not fulfilling their agreement They were encouraged when Canada’s with the U S. . military to fully cooperate all-party House of Commons subcom- UN Role with and support (our) goals in Iraq ”. mittee on international human rights Al-Maliki has since agreed, under inter- (Residents) “had come to Ashraf to volun- unanimously passed, at the end of 2011, national pressure, not to attack Ashraf tarily serve with the (PMOI) to establish a a motion calling for Iraq to allow interna- for a further period, although its length is free and democratic Iran . It was with great tional observers into Ashraf, to extend the now unclear . Offering to bring a number sadness that I witnessed the abandonment deadline, and to ask the government of of the residents to Canada might encour- of the residents of Camp Ashraf by the

diplomat and international canada 21 DIPLOMATICA|DEBATE

ing erected . Residents who were forced to move there on February 17th understand- ably feel betrayed by the UN assistant mission head in Iraq for declaring that the camp met ‘humanitarian standards’ and by the Obama administration for going along with it . The UN organization as a whole has been woefully weak to date in dealing with personal safety and dignity issues involving Ashraf residents . More ‘responsibility gt. Curt Cashour gt. S to protect’ and respect for the UN founding documents and purposes are clearly

hoto by required by the UN, its Security Council P and the international community as a rmy A

. whole if the government in Bagdad’s worst S . U instincts are to be contained successfully . Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki greets U.S. soldiers during Iraqi Army Day. The continuing fear of many of us is that Camp Liberty is morphing into a con- very government that asked me to risk my the refugee status of all residents . PACE centration camp to hold members of most life to defend (them) ”. noted that the living conditions in the probably the largest Iranian opposition new location are far less bearable than movement before they are slaughtered or Camp Liberty initially promised . Freedom of movement returned to the mullahs in chains . In late January, 2012, a committee of the is denied; there are increasing restrictions Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of for the residents . David Kilgour, a former Alberta MP, is Europe (PACE) called on the Iraqi govern- Others note that al-Maliki is already co-chair of the Canadian Friends of a ment not to turn a former American base, reneging on his signed agreement . Camp Democratic Iran, a fellow of the Queen's Camp Liberty, to which about 400 Ashraf Liberty has no running water, no electric- University Centre for the Study of De- residents have now been transferred, ity, no infrastructure; the allocated size has mocracy and a director of the Washing- into a prison, and called on the UNHCR shrunk from 40 square kilometres to one ton-based Council for a Community of to end the long delay in determining square kilometre . Concrete walls are be- Democracies (CCD) .

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22 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN VERBATIM|DIPLOMATICA

The case for Scottish independence

Heathrow terminal, the London orbital motorway, the horrendously expensive and unnecessary Trident missile system and military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan .Vast reserves of oil and gas, worth over £1 trillion [$1 6. trillion], are still to be tapped in the Scottish sector of the North Sea and Atlantic . Some experts say as much as 25 billion barrels remain to be discovered . An independent SNP government would open a sovereign wealth fund based on what Norway (pop . 4 9. million) set up soon after oil was found in its sector . A share of the revenues would be invested in the fund for future generations — so that oil continues to benefit the Scot- tish economy far into the future . Cagle Cartoons Scotland already has a parliament The current parliament has fewer powers “Independence Referendum” by Kap, La Vanguardia, Spain to raise and spend its own income than virtually any other legislature in Europe . Less than the Isle of Man, Catalonia, Scotland will hold a referendum in 2014 on ery and an ample supply of water .As a Flanders or the Basque country . Holyrood independence as mandated by the Scottish net exporter of electricity, and with in- only has control of a meagre six percent of National Party in its 2011 election platform. creasing development of wind and wave its finances — mostly raised from council This is an edited transcript of the arguments power, Scotland doesn’t need or want tax and business rates . Scottish govern- for independence as articulated by the SNP. any more nuclear power stations . Mean- ment budgets are almost wholly reliant while, Silicon Glen is the name given to on Westminster whims . Currently, the Size matters our long-established and highly diversi- amounts that Holyrood can spend on vi- ome have suggested Scotland’s too fied electronics sector . Indeed, Scotland tal services like health, education and law small to be independent . Not so . manufactures 28 percent of Europe’s per- and order depend entirely on grudgingly SThe size or population of a coun- sonal computers . And don’t forget whisky given block grants or pocket money . The try has nothing to do with its prosperity . exports, which are now worth nearly £3 5. London government also sets the level of Scotland is slightly smaller than Austria billion [$5 5. billion] with the UK treasury age pensions and other allowances . and about the same size as the Czech raking off some £1 .6 billion [$2 .5 billion] in Republic . Of the 193 independent nations duty each year . Positive economic effect represented in the UN, approximately 85 Scotland’s growth has remained behind have a population smaller than Scotland’s . Controlling the North Sea that of the UK in nine out the past 10 We wouldn’t need control but the oil is years . In 1977-2007, our average annual Putting resources to work obviously of huge benefit to Scotland . GDP growth rate was just 2 percent, Our gross domestic product (GDP), ex- Approximately 90 percent of the UK’s oil well behind that of Ireland (5 3. percent), cluding oil and gas production, is ap- revenues come from the Scottish sector of Norway (3 1. percent) and Finland (2 9. proximately £86 billion [C$136 billion] . the continental shelf . In 2008, our offshore percent) .With independence, Scotland That’s larger than the economies of New natural resources generated an estimated would manage its own national budget, Zealand, Norway, Finland and Ireland . annual output of over £30 billion [$47 and enjoy full responsibility for promoting Our diverse economy provides employ- billion] . The energy sector directly em- economic growth and improving our comment for 2 5. million people, and gener- ploys 40,700 people in Scotland, and indi- petitiveness . We would collect and spend ates an annual output of more than £100 rectly supports 195,000 through its supply our own taxes, including the revenues billion [$158 billion] . We have a wealth chain and export activities . from North Sea oil, and would be able to of natural resources including agriculture Since 1980-81, the UK government has borrow freely in international markets . and forestry; beef, mutton, lamb, pork taken more than £242 billion [$381 bil- For decades, Scotland’s economic stag- and poultry production; dairy products; lion] in tax receipts from the North Sea oil nation and decline have been mainly due fishing, fish processing and fish-farming . and gas fields . That works out to £48,400 to “absentee” administration . London There are extensive reserves of coal, and [$76,233] for every person in Scotland . The governments, of any hue, have tended sources of iron, zinc, oil-shale and peat . money has been squandered on things to view our country through the wrong Not to mention glorious mountain scen- such as the Millennium Dome, yet another end of a telescope, and major decisions

diplomat and international canada 23 DIPLOMATICA|VERBATIM

on economic planning and investment power, and Scotland is required to pay its common interests and goals through have been generally designed for the share for continuing pretentious extrava- our shared history, geography and social overpopulated south-east of England . gance by the foreign office . emarkably,r interchange . It is important to remember An independent Scotland, with full fis- even in these economically stringent that although the political union would cal powers, would obtain control of key times, there are still more than £1 1. billion end, our social union in these islands elements of the UK’s current economic [$1 7. billion] worth of British embassies, would continue as before . policy . These include all taxation, financial offices, residences and land around the Scotland’s biggest trading partner is markets and regulation, monetary policy, world . England and Wales, with trade worth inflation targets, foreign exchange and £26 1. billion [$41 billion] in 2007 . As a borrowing, company and employment On defence full member of the European Union, laws, employment rights, immigration, A nation that governs itself must have the Scotland would continue to have access energy policy, competition, corporate capability to defend itself, and Scotland to its markets and, as both Scotland and insolvency, science and innovation, tele- would probably have defence forces on England would both be in the EU, enjoy communications, consumer protection, the scale and model of countries such as complete freedom of movement between product and trading standards, health & Denmark or Norway . These nations are the countries, with no customs or pass- safety, and social security . A Scottish gov- members of NATO and Scotland would port checks on our borders .Already, no ernment would also be able to formulate a also inherit a treaty obligation to the al- passports are required for those travelling more competitive corporation tax to boost liance . However, the SNP’s opposition between the UK and Ireland . Like the the economy through increased foreign in- to nuclear weapons would require the Scandinavian countries, we would be able vestment, research and development, and phased but complete removal of the to work together in a strong partnership the siting of major company headquarters . massively expensive and militarily un- on areas of mutual interest and advantage . justifiable Trident missile system from The existing joint ministerial committee Scotland and the EU the Clyde . Scotland’s defence would be should serve as a useful model for a new The SNP’s policy is independence in primarily focused on securing its territory, intergovernmental body to manage the Europe . The party sees the European rather than having the intention or capac- new relationship between Scotland and Union as an institution in which inde- ity to conduct overseas wars . the rest of the UK . The Scottish govern- pendent countries work together, and not ment already provides representatives as a forerunner of a federal super-state Currency possibilities and input to the British-Irish Council . called the United States of Europe, or Scotland currently uses the sterling mon- similar . ti wants national governments to etary system, and is unique in Europe The aftermath of a yes vote retain control over many key issues, such in having three different banknote issu- Choosing independence in the referen- as their constitutions, taxation and spend- ers: the Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale and dum would be an act of self-determination ing . However, to get listened to in Europe RBS . Bank of England notes are also legal by the Scottish people . UK governments you have to be an independent member tender north of the border, but sometimes have indicated, in recent years, that if state, and Scotland would continue to be Scottish notes are not accepted in England . the Scots decide they want to govern part of the EU after self-government is Although there is an understandable sen- themselves, there would be no impedi- achieved . This natural progression is set timental attachment to this multi-currency, ments to prevent them from doing so . It out in the 1978 Convention on Succes- it is generally thought of as impractical is expected, therefore, that negotiations sion of States, which says: “Any treaty and cumbersome in the 21st Century . between Scottish and UK governments in force at the date of succession (i e. . An independent Scottish government would be conducted in a spirit of cordi- independence) in respect of the entire ter- would have three options: staying with ality and co-operation . The 1983 Vienna ritory of the predecessor state continues in sterling; introducing a new currency (with Convention establishes principles for the force in respect of each successor state so notes and coinage issued by a central division of the value of assets during inde- formed ”Although. unlikely, it would not bank); or entering the European Economic pendence negotiations . be possible for any EU member state to at- and Monetary Union (EMU) . The SNP tempt to block Scottish membership . would consider Scotland’s adoption of the Scottish governance At present, as part of the UK, Scotland Euro, but only if this was first approved While independence negotiations were only has six members of the European in a referendum and economic conditions underway, the Scottish parliament would Parliament — the same number as Luxem- and entrance requirements were favour- approve the text of a draft constitution . bourg or Malta . As an independent state, able to Scotland’s interests at the time of This would be subject to full public scru- this representation would rise to 12 or 13 application . tiny and debate before being finalized by — equal to Ireland or Denmark . the parliament, and would become law as Relations with England soon as an independence settlement had Diplomacy abroad Independence would actually lead to an been agreed upon and put into effect . The Scotland would be a member of the improved relationship between Scotland government and parliament would also United Nations, the Commonwealth, the and England, in that dealings would be be formulating policies for the newly ac- World Health Organization, the OECD conducted by two sovereign governments quired areas for which they would be tak- and the World Trade Organization . This on an equal footing . It certainly wouldn’t ing responsibility, and opening a dialogue would enable us to promote our national mean an end to the strong and valuable with the EU and other international bodies . interests globally and engage with other social ties and friendship which exist be- The SNP proposes that there be new elec- states as an equal partner . tween ourselves and the other countries tions to the Scottish parliament shortly The UK still sees itself as a world of the British Isles . We will always retain after independence had been declared .

24 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN VERBATIM|DIPLOMATICA

A single-chamber parliament would have fixed four-year terms and its MPs would be elected by proportional representation . The government would be headed by a prime minister, a cabinet and other ministers elected by the parliament, which might be made slightly larger, to take account of its greatly expanded powers . While it is possible that the SNP would form the interim government, it would be up to the democratic will of the electorate as to who would govern the country thereafter . It is envisaged that the three major parties currently under control from London would contest the elections as truly Scottish political parties, committed to national independence . The judicial system would continue in its present form, with an independent legal body appointed by a judicial appointments commission . The UK’s Supreme Court would no longer be a court of appeal in civil cases . Auto- matic rights of citizenship would be open to all those living in Scotland . The SNP believes that all of our citizens have a valued part to play in our new country, regardless of their place of birth or ethnic background . Those who chose not to take up Scottish citizenship, or opted for dual citizenship, would continue to enjoy an unaffected right to residency in the country . We would also welcome the diverse skills, talents and contributions made by the new Scots who chose to make their home in Scot- land .

The case for a constitution Nearly every country in the world, except the UK, has a written constitution . There are two principal reasons why Scotland re- quires its own . The first is to define what its Parliament can and can’t do . The second is to guarantee the basic human rights of ordinary citizens, based on international law . The UK doesn’t have a written constitution, other than the grossly un- democratic and discredited 1707 Treaty of Union . This has given the UK Parliament absolute supremacy, with unlimited powers to legislate as it sees fit . Here, the people would be masters of the Scottish constitution, while the executive, legisla- tive and judicial branches of the state would be subordinate to it . The SNP prepared a draft text for a constitution in 1977, revised it in 1990-91 and finally published A Constitution for a Free Scotland in September 2002 . In it, the powers of the parliament, government and head of state are clearly defined, and the independence of the judiciary guaranteed . D

diplomat and international canada 25 DIPLOMATICA|QUESTIONS Asked

Andrew Scheer: master of the House

Andrew Scheer is Canada’s youngest-ever that there were members taking pictures speaker of the House. For a kid who in the chamber — and that is something grew up in Ottawa and skipped classes that has flared up over the past few years . at Immaculata High School (formerly on My predecessor was very strict . No pic- Bronson Avenue) to watch Question tures [in the chamber] . How does the Period on Parliament Hill, it almost seems speaker say on a case-by-case basis that like destiny. But for the member for one picture is allowed and another isn’t? Regina Qu’Appelle (his wife is from It was my intention to ask the members Saskatchewan), life is more complicated to take their seats and to stop taking pic- than it was in those days. He now has to tures because a vote was about to start . I travel between his hometown and his honestly don’t know how it turned into constituency and, for the time being, what it did . he and his school teacher wife, Jill, are dividing their time — and that of DM: As a father of four, I would think their four children under the age of you’d be sympathetic . six — between the two places. Here, AS: Yes . My staff can tell you the kids he chats with Diplomat editor Jennifer have been here when my wife isn’t able Campbell. to keep them — if she has a medical appointment, for example . I obviously [un- Diplomat magazine: Congratulations derstand] the juggling . I’ve been asked on being elected speaker . Was it a to come back to the House with some surprise to be chosen by your parlia- kind of clarification so I’ll be doing that mentary peers? — trying to find the right balance of un- Andrew Scheer: I knew I had a good derstanding when a member absolutely shot but you never know ’til the has to be in the House, and also trying to results come in . I wasn’t sure I was maintain integrity, decorum and order . going to win but I thought I was well positioned . It was a very exciting day, DM: Meaning that crying babies can be a that’s for sure . And obviously, I was very problem? happy with the finish . AS: Well, you’ve got all kinds of questions . How old is a baby? I’ve got an 11-month- DM: At 34, you’re the youngest-ever old and I wouldn’t want to have him on House of Commons speaker in Canada . my lap in the chamber . Are there advantages to that? AS: I think there are some advantages but DM: But there are women who breast- there are also some extra challenges . On feed up to two years . the one hand, it gives me an opportunity AS: Yes . At any rate, I’ll be working on to put a mark on the office of the speaker . that . [In the end, he ruled that MPs with It’s a very young parliament right now so infants should be able to sort things out I think I’ve been able to make a connec- in advance of a vote so they don’t have to tion with some of the new MPs who are bring their children into the chamber, but quite young, maybe in a way that some- he acknowledged it could be acceptable one who’s older might not . Being young in emergencies ]. poses a challenge in dealing with MPs who are senior both in age and years of DM: You knew what you were getting service . But, so far, I think it’s gone very into, having served as deputy speaker . well . It’s a learning process . How has the job changed now that you’ve been promoted? DM: Can you talk about the incident [in AS: As deputy speaker, I wasn’t really February in which NDP MP Sana Hassai- involved in the House administration nia brought her infant son, Skander-Jack, side — overseeing the precinct and work- in the House of Commons and was asked ing with the various department heads to take him out of the chamber . The from security to printing and postal . request came through a parliamentary That’s very interesting . There are a lot of page who told her that MPs had noticed talented, hard-working people who make the baby and that the speaker requested this place operate and most of the mem- yanne wilson yanne

D she remove him ]. bers probably never know about that AS: The complaint raised with me was side of things . And of course, as deputy

26 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN QUESTIONS Asked|DIPLOMATICA tudio S eneral G he T

The Scheer family. From left, Jill (holding Henry), Thomas, Grace, Andrew and Madeline.

speaker, I didn’t do a lot with the diplo- members the opportunity to interact with matic community, which is something other countries or heads-of-mission from I’m learning is a big part of this job . other countries . The more lines of com- munication, the better . That’s good for our DM: I’m guessing you didn’t have to government and our system . attend quite as many diplomatic functions as you now do . DM: Is there a lot of pressure to attend AS: Yes . Between events held on the Hill diplomatic functions? and those of the diplomatic community, AS: I would say it’s positive pressure . I wouldn’t have to make my own dinner They’re very happy when I can attend ever . but they are also understanding that my first duty is to the House, if there are DM: Describe your interaction with dip- votes, for example . And they are starting lomats . to realize that having a riding quite a bit AS: It’s been very positive . I’ve had a further away than Kingston was (Peter number of courtesy calls . I’m a big his- Milliken was the member for Kingston tory buff and a big political affairs buff and the Islands), and a spouse and four and it’s kind of nice to get a one-on-one kids means that I have to be a bit more lesson on what’s going on in various strategic with my time . Hopefully, I’ll get countries and regions . It’s interesting to do more of them . to hear from different ambassadors and high commissioners who are telling me DM: On the domestic front, you and your about their countries and it’s maybe dif- family (children Thomas, Grace, Mad- ferent from what you might be getting in eline, and Henry) are back and forth at the media . this point . How’s that working out? And then I get to attend their events AS: So far so good . We’ve got a rhythm and there’s always a cultural side — there established . Around every break week, might be musicians or a sampling of food . Jill and the kids stay out west for the I think one thing that Speaker Milliken did week before and after . Then they come was to take the parliamentary diplomacy to Ottawa for two or three weeks . Then side of things very seriously and gave we repeat [the schedule] depending on

diplomat and international canada 27 DIPLOMATICA|QUESTIONS Asked

when the break weeks are . It gets difficult think you’ll be home doing constituency but there really is no perfect solution . Jill work, and being with your family . Now is very close to her family in Regina and I’m starting to realize that there really are I have to go back to the riding to do con- not as many (break weeks at home) for stituency work, anyway . the speaker . That’s another area where I This is the rhythm for year one but we imagine I’ll do less than my predecessor . might have to tweak it a bit for next year . The G8 is obviously a very high-level One of [the children] is in school but Jill’s meeting . And the Commonwealth, too . a teacher, so when he comes here for two Canada has a dynamic relationship with weeks, his teacher sends lesson plans . So a lot of Commonwealth countries and as- far, knock-on-wood, that hasn’t seemed sists them in developing their parliamen- to be too disruptive to him . I always joke tary institutions . that the tough thing about kids is that you Sometimes we get requests from For- don’t find out you screwed them up ’til 10 eign Affairs saying it would be helpful years later . if a delegation could meet here or there because we have consular or trade issues DM: Is it your hope that Regina remains or security issues . home base? AS: I think it’ll be half-and-half or 60/40 DM: What’s the best part of your job? AS:

for as long as I’m speaker . When I’m wilson yanne That’s a tough question . There are finished doing that, Regina will be 100 D so many neat parts . But I think just be- percent home . My family is from Ottawa Andrew Scheer stands in front of world- ing in the House when great moments so it’s great — grandmas in both cities . renowned photographer Youssef Karsh's happen, either a great exchange between My parents are here . Jill and I met in uni- famous portait of British Prime Minister two members, or when serious issues are versity and moved to Regina and that’s Winston Churchill. being discussed — being in the House where we got married . My sister is still when there’s that kind of electricity in the here . counter-arguments . Let them do their job air . When parliamentarians are dealing and my job is just this . That’s served me with a serious issue, it’s exciting to be in DM: You’re a Conservative politician who well so far . that spot with that perspective . obviously has a point of view . How do you remain neutral? DM: What kind of travel demands come DM: Do you have any new strategies to AS: Before this, I was deputy and prior with this job? keep Parliament civil? to that, I was assistant deputy — I think AS: The speaker is invited to do many AS: Well, there obviously have been a I’ve developed a good handle on be- parliamentary visits and to attend many few moments in the House where there’s ing impartial and non-partisan in the conferences . My first was in Paris, the G8 been a breakdown of civility and deco- House . I think every human being has speakers’ conference in September, and rum but when I compare it to my first certain beliefs and you’ve got to work then in January, we had the Common- year, I think here’s been an improvement . on that . What I’m always focused on, wealth speakers’ conference . That was in My strategy is just to intervene when especially when I’m in the chamber, is Trinidad . Those were very worthwhile needed . When it’s not appropriate for me the procedure . It’s up to other members conferences but it is an extra demand on to call someone on the carpet, [I will say] of my caucus to make arguments and it’s your time . Usually when you’re a back- one-on-one to a member, without embar- up to the members of the NDP to make bencher, you see a break week and you rassing them, ‘We can’t have that ’. I’ll do

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28 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN QUESTIONS Asked|DIPLOMATICA

it after the fact . In those cases, it is better votes so I might go over briefings from the than doing it in the House . Every day is a board of internal economy or meet with little different . As my counterpart in the my chief of staff or with the clerks, if there Senate says, it’s not an exact science be- are rulings that need to be delivered . And cause today’s unparliamentary word may then I preside over the votes . Evenings, I not be [so regarded] the next — because either go home and have supper with the of context . kids and Jill or I attend, very often, diplomatic functions or events being hosted by DM: Could you detail a typical day when non-profit organizations or NGOs . the House is sitting? AS: The first thing I do is meet with my DM: You were born in Ottawa . Growing chief of staff and get an update on what up, did you ever imagine you’d end up the day will look like . If there are any is- with this job? sues from the previous day, like media, AS: I had a really good history teacher we’ll discuss how to deal with those . and he also taught a politics class . That Then we have a meeting with the clerks, would have been Grade 11 . I kind of 15 minutes before the House starts sit- thought after that class I’d like to be an ting, and they go over the day’s agenda MP . I thought that would be a really re- and [note] if there’s any expectation of warding vocation . He was very encour- motions that might be moved or issues aging . He always said: “We’ve got this that might come up . beautiful gift in Canada . If we don’t like Then I open the House and hand it over something, our ancestors set it up so we to one of the deputies . I might then deal could participate and do something with some constituency files or maybe at- about it ”. He said if you look at the tend a function, such as an unveiling, for world, very few people get to do that . He example . Then I might have lunch with told us to take advantage of what was a delegation or visitors . That takes us to given to you, whether it’s voting, or join- the briefing, just before Question Period . ing a group or organization . I took it to I preside over Question Period . After that, heart and [thought] “Why not go right to I usually have a couple of hours before the source?” D

diplomat and international canada 29 DIPLOMATICA|NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Changing lives in Lesotho By Peg Herbert

esotho persistently has the world’s third highest rate of AIDS, deci- Lmating the population’s social and economic structures . Imagine the loss of productivity . This tiny land-locked mountain kingdom, entirely surrounded by South Africa, illustrates the development challenges of the aftermath of such devastating death rates (23 6. percent of its people are in- fected) which include poverty, increasing infant mortality and chronic unemploy- ment . A great deal of money is spent on testing and treatment of the disease but equally important is the support for those who are left, especially the orphans . Every person in Lesotho is either in- fected or affected by AIDS . Within its small population of close to two million, 200,000 children are orphaned . Thousands of grandmothers struggle to raise these children with few resources . Young people feel esotho

hopeless and disengaged, and everyone L

suffers emotionally . elp H Palesa, a 16-year-old girl, tells us her Children looking after children: Child-headed households are on the rise in Lesotho from the story of living alone, unprotected, and how devastation of poverty and HIV/AIDS. her view of the world changed: “I thought I was nothing . I thought I could only be something if I were a boy . Now I know that I am wonderful and that these awful things that happen to me are not my fault . I am not bad because I am poor and alone . I know now that I can be a leader in my community and I can be loved ”. How to help? A small Ottawa-based NGO (helplesotho org). is tackling that question in a way that is increasingly at- tracting attention . Help Lesotho is finding the balance between providing relief and sustainable development . It is confronting the underlying issues head-on and having a huge impact every year . We know we need to offer HIV/AIDS and gender- equity education and we have a strong plan to do that . Help Lesotho has raised close to $8 million so far to benefit thousands of orphans, youth, child-headed households and grandmothers every year . The NGO provides simple relief in many ways — by providing shoes, uniforms, food and school supplies, for example . Its sustainable development approach is to invest esotho in people and communities through psy- L elp chosocial support, skills training, health H education, mobilization, awareness-raising Grandmothers and the orphans they raise meet to share what they’re learning. and capacity-building . Help Lesotho

30 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN NOTES FROM THE FIELD|DIPLOMATICA

embraces the whole person in the context of everyday life, working with the same individuals, schools and communities over many years . Through its two leadership centres, 10 communities and 17 partner schools, Help Lesotho addresses key challenges in the Lesotho AIDS epidemic . Three-quarters of its work is aimed at helping girls and women gain control over their lives and a greater voice in their home, workplace and community . Male youth learn to analyze how gender inequity is disadvantageous for men, Offering Exclusive as well . Both genders are empowered to challenge unhealthy myths and traditional Rates For Diplomat- s views of gender that fail to respect the rights of others . By helping participants At Accu-Rate Corporation our For your personal make a difference for others, programs team of highly experienced currency consultation please call: promote the sense of belonging so essential traders and foreign banking partners Marie Boivin to human development and well-being . allow us to negotiate currency prices Managing Director Thabo, a 23-year-old man, writes: “Be- lower than any other currency dealer 613-596-5505 ext. 101 fore [a gender conference he attended], I or commercial institution. [email protected] thought only men could make decisions and that my wife must do as I say . Now I know that women [make] good decisions, Accu-Rate Corporation World Exchange Plaza too, and I will be happier if I respect [my Accu-Rate Corporation wife] . She will only tell me her hopes if I 2573 Carling Ave. 111 Albert St. Foreign Exchange & International Payment Services am kind . My children will only love me if www.accu-rate.ca (613) 596-5505 (613) 238-8454 I am good to them . I did not know it was bullying to beat a woman . I promise to be a good man and help my friends to be, too ”. Mats’episo, a 15-year-old girl, shares her story: “Before, I could only hope for help to pay my school fees . Now I will not Meet Alice: spend years sitting at home, looking after One of Elmwood’s Inspiring Girls sick people and doing all the housework . I “Alice has excelled at Elmwood— will learn and have friends . I will be some- in her studies, as an athlete and body and I will not be left behind ”. as a role model. Once a quiet A 78-year-old grandmother, ‘M’e Ma- girl, she’s grown into a confident tabang, tells her friends: “Before, I was young woman who inspires her waiting to die . The grandmother program classmates. With the skills she’s has brought me to life . I am not so afraid of learned here, she is ready to take raising the young ones now . The education on the world. ” and food have revived my body and my -Ms. Derbyshire, Grade 11 Teacher soul . I can go on and I can help my neighbours . My hands are no longer empty ”. It is entirely possible to help from Canada . Each person can make a differ- here is one thing that every single girl at Elmwood School has: potential. ence, each dollar matters . Lesotho is a TWe see it in the classroom, on the field, in the halls and all around us. We small country . It is possible to have a huge believe that every girl comes to us with untapped potential, and it is our job to impact . Help Lesotho provides programs help her discover it. including child sponsorship, six-day lead- Elmwood School Highlights: ership camps, anti-AIDS school-based • IB Programme at all levels ensures ease of mobility for diplomatic families clubs, three-day gender conferences for • Outstanding graduate achievement and university placement young women and men, grandmother vil- • Supportive atmosphere eases transition to new school and city lage support networks . Chose one to sup- • Inspiring, dedicated faculty port and change a life . • Diverse, globally aware student body • ESL instruction available from JK to Grade 12 Peg Herbert is an educational psycholo- For more information on the advantages of an gist and founder and executive director of Elmwood education, please visit elmwood.ca. Inspiring girls Help Lesotho

diplomat and international canada 31 DIPLOMATICA|good deeds

Hitting the slopes for Aboriginal health

he Ottawa Diplomatic Associa- tion’s annual ski day is a win-win . TDiplomats have a chance to enjoy a pleasant afternoon on the slopes with fellow diplomats and their families, and the event raises funds for a good cause in Ottawa . As it did last year, the ODA will once again donate the proceeds from Ski Day (and other events held throughout the year) to Ottawa’s Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health . Last year’s proceeds amounted to a few hundred dollars and

ODA president, Polish Ambassador Ze- aum non Kosiniak-Kamysz, says Ski Day 2012 B lle raised upwards of $1,000 for the organiza- U tion . Last year’s donation to Wabano was From left, German Ambassador Georg Witschel, Polish Ambassador Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz and $2,160 but that included funds from other their wives, Sabine Witschel and Katarzyna Kosiniak-Kamysz. events held throughout the year, said secretary-general James Lévêque . be heard .We are so appreciative to know teracting with the community of Ottawa . The Wabano Centre is a charity that en- that others believe in our work enough to It shows that diplomats are not only in- courages and practises community-based invest in the Wabano Centre .We are grate- volved in black tie and formal events but holistic health care which combines native ful for support that will allow us to create also sports ”. cultural practices and Western medicine a space of belonging and provision for a The event included downhill ski races to combat poverty and illness among First better future for our children .We celebrate and lessons in both downhill and cross- Nations people . Each year, it serves more the Ottawa Diplomat Association for their country skiing . An early-evening awards than 10,000 Aboriginal and non-Aborig- generous gift ”. ceremony for registered participants and inal people, as it has opened its doors to The March 3 Ski Day at Camp Fortune, special guests was held at the residence of the community as a whole . put on by the ODA with the German and German Ambassador Georg Witschel and The donation is not only materially Polish embassies, was its sixth annual co-hosted by Mr . Kosiniak-Kamysz . important but also symbolically so, said event, and after a large dumping of snow In addition to inviting participants executive director Allison Fisher . at the end of February, there was plenty of from all the diplomatic missions in Ot- “This expression of generosity gives snow for the big day . tawa, the ODA also extended welcomed our community a certain sense of possibil- Ski Day has grown over the years and its counterparts at DFAIT . ity because it comes from hearts outside this year’s event attracted 100 participants . Besides an exhilarating day on the our country,” Ms Fisher said . “Aboriginal “It’s a really nice event,” said Mr . slopes, the diplomats and their families al- organizations work very hard in cities to Kosiniak-Kamysz . “It’s very important ways enjoy meeting the greater Ottawa acquire a voice that is strong enough to to have such occasions, so that we’re in- community, says Mr . Kosiniak-Kamysz . D

32 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN TRADE WINDS|DIPLOMATICA

Major liberal reform lures investment to Belarus ian c a Roman Sobolev B The Minsk Arena it is the main stadium for the 2014 Men’s World Ice Hockey Championships.

trengthening economic relations It goes without saying that both coun- nationality . between our countries is one of the tries have great potential for increasing The legal reforms also offer preferential Smajor objectives of the Embassy of trade . We are very interested in Canadian investment treatment . There are special le- Belarus in Canada . companies which could represent Belarus gal regimes for investors in free economic Belarus is well known as a country of producers of trucks, harvesters, trams and zones, small- and medium-sized towns, marvelous natural beauty and original building materials in Canada . rural areas and in the high-technology culture . However, Belarus has recently Belarus is well-placed for international park . The rights of foreign investors are also acquired status for the economic trade . It is a member of the Customs protected not only on a national but also policy the country has adopted . Union with Kazakhstan and the Russian on an international level: As of July 2011, The model of economic development Federation . Situated in the centre of Eu- Belarus signed two basic agreements with Belarus has chosen, and the results it has rope on the crossroads of East-West and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee now achieved, have earned the country a North-South routes, it has good transport Agency . reputation as a reliable and stable partner . infrastructure and well-educated, hard- I would also like to emphasize that the Manufacturing, which includes ma- working people . In short, Belarus is an advantage of the Belarus economy lies in chine building, metalwork, the chemical excellent place for Canadian companies the enormous transit potential provided industry, forestry, petrochemical and looking to create their enterprises in the by its favourable geopolitical location and wood processing, is the main sector of the markets of Eastern Europe and Central transport infrastructure . country’s economy . Belarusian agriculture Asia . Belarus is well positioned as a hub is traditional . Its main products are milk, Knowing Canada as a world leader in between CIS (Commonwealth of Inde- beef, pork, poultry, grains, potatoes, flax, such areas as green energy, pharmaceu- pendent States, a 12-country broad-based sugar beets, fruits and vegetables . ticals, innovations and transport equip- association of former USSR countries) and You can imagine what Belarus’ econ- ment, we are seeking the participation of the European Union . The transport infra- omy looks like today just by studying the Canadian companies in Belarus invest- structure combines a broad network of following figures . A country with fewer ment projects in these areas . We would ground, rail, air and water routes . Belarus’ than 9 6. million people, Belarus accounts also welcome their participation in proj- transport industry is highly promising for for, as a percentage of worldwide produc- ects linked with extraction of mineral re- investments, especially in its creation of tion, the following: 30 percent of dump sources, wood processing and agriculture . logistic centres . trucks, 11 percent of potash fertilizers, 6 Aiming to increase the number of for- As for foreign investments to the ser- percent of tractors, 1 1. percent of milk and eign investors, the Belarus government vice sector, Belarus’ has adopted special 0 6. percent of artificial fibres . has fulfilled massive reforms for liber- rules as incentives to investors in tourism Belarus also produces buses, tubes, oil alization . As a result, the World Bank’s and related industries . refinery products, ceramic tiles and glass, Doing Business 2010 annual report places We would like to see Canadians in which are exported around the world . Un- Belarus at No . 4 in the Top-10 reformers of Belarus not only as investors, but also as fortunately, the volume of Belarus’ exports business regulation . tourists, especially in 2014, when Belarus to Canada is rather small — C$33 9. mil- As a result, more than 5,000 commercial will host the Ice Hockey World Cup . lion from January through October 2011 . organizations in the country are partially The Belarus embassy will be glad to These include petroleum, urea fertilizers, or fully owned by foreign companies . assist Canadian companies, looking for tires, lumber, clothing, tractors, optical Belarus has created an effective legal long-term mutually beneficial cooperation equipment, glass fibres and confectioner- framework for the investment business, with us . ies . In the same period, the value of Ca- underpinned by international treaties nadian exports to Belarus was only C$2 and national legislation . In my country, Roman Sobolev is chargé d’affaires, ad million (mainly telephone sets, transmis- all investors are guaranteed equal non- interim, at the Embassy of Belarus in sion apparatus, instruments for chemical discriminatory protection of rights and Canada . Reach him at email: canada@ analysis and medicines) . lawful interests, regardless of ownership mfa gov. by. or 613-233-9994 .

diplomat and international canada 33 DIPLOMATICA|diplomatic agenda

Britain: the Olympics in a time of austerity populous

The sun sets over Olympic Stadium in London.

: don and across strument of austerity . Times of economic FIRST NAME Andrew the United King- hardship demand that governments invest LAST NAME: Pocock dom . One of the public money effectively . The Olympics world’s most made exactly such a demand as a once-in- CITIZENSHIP: British TO dynamic, cre- a-generation chance to demonstrate why COMMISSIONER BECAME HIGH ative and inter- Britain is a great place to invest, study and CANADA: January 15, 2011 national cities do business; and to build for the present, : Washington, would stage while investing in the future, in sustain- us postings previo t h e w o r l d ’s able technologies, infrastructure, business Australia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe most complex and tourism . sporting event World-class British expertise and inno- — and was vative British businesses are at the core of looking for- delivering the UK’s biggest peacetime lo- ward to it . gistical operation, on time and on budget . Three years later, the world had The complex pieces of this massive project n July 6, 2005, at Raffles City in changed again . We were in the midst of are being finalized as I write — including Singapore, the International the worst global financial crisis since the venue construction, transport, policing OOlympic Committee announced 1930s . That, and its enduring aftermath, and security . that London had won the bid for the 2012 faced us all with deficits, sovereign debt Take, for instance, Olympic Park, con- Olympic and Paralympic Games . The and the imperatives of austerity, chal- structed on reclaimed waste and industrial competition had been strong, including lenges London’s Olympics had not ex- land in Stratford, East London . This is the bids from Madrid, Moscow, New York pected . largest park built in Britain in 100 years . and Paris . There was jubilation in Lon- But spending cuts are not the only in- Sustainability has been incorporated

34 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN diplomatic agenda|DIPLOMATICA

directly into the design process . When But investment in London’s economic Games during 2012 . And the UK busi- complete, two million tons of soil, much future does not begin or end with the nesses that provide high-quality jobs are previously contaminated, will have been park . London’s transportation networks, developing knowledge and expertise by treated and re-used, 98 per cent of demoli- above and below ground, which carry working on Olympic projects, honing a tion material recycled, waterways hidden the city’s millions of commuters and competitive edge for the future . for generations uncovered and new wild- visitors, are being improved, not only to In five short months, the Olympic open- life habitats created . Olympic Park is not serve the needs of the Games but the fu- ing and closing ceremonies will demon- just a venue, it’s an ecosystem . ture demands of the economy . The 2012 strate to billions of people a London, and a And it spreads beyond the park . More Transport Plan details these improve- Britain, that is home to one of the most cul- than £8 billion (C$12 6. billion) of public ments . They include upgrades to existing turally diverse, inclusive and modern soci- funding has been invested to regenerate rail stations, construction of new ones eties in the world . By effectively managing East London and the city’s five poorest and investment in new light rail lines to the planning and construction aspects of boroughs, making Olympic Park one of increase capacity . Given the sustainabil- the Games, we have been able to invest the largest urban developments in Europe ity focus of London 2012, Olympic Park extra money in the ceremonies, within the and creating 2,800 new homes, of which has also been fully integrated into Lon- defined public-sector financial envelope . half will be affordable housing . don’s cycling and pedestrian networks, We know this type of investment can be a A central idea is to tread softly . New providing a sustainable transportation significant economic benefit . For example, venues and buildings incorporate low- legacy . As today’s citizens search for better the number of international visitors to carbon and sustainable construction ways to commute to work, leisure and so- Barcelona doubled in the decade following techniques . Wherever possible — for the cial facilities, innovation in transportation the 1992 Olympics; and a report by Oxford football events, for example — existing infrastructure creates a city that is better Economics predicted a boost of more than stadia will be used . And the park’s use- connected and more attractive to new resi- £2 billion ($3 1. billion Cdn) for tourism in fulness will not end with the Games . It’s dents and investment . Britain from 2013-17 . designed to provide long-term economic This work is already generating social But the Games are about much more and social benefits to the community, and economic dividends . By the time the than economics . They are an international well into the future . In short, Olympic Games are over, 30,000 people will have festival of sport, fellowship and excel- Park is intended as a catalyst for change, worked on the park, thousands more lence . Britain’s international city looks a blueprint for sustainable living that, on £6 billion ($9 4. billion) in supplier forward to welcoming the world . hopefully, will inspire similar approaches contracts and countless others will have The London Games run from July 27 elsewhere . worked or volunteered to support the through August 12 . D

diplomat and international canada 35 Di spatches|GAMES Warfare without the shooting

The virulent, the violent and the vociferous: the Top 10 most political sporting events of modern times

By Wolfgang Depner

36 DREAMSTIME GAMES|Di spatches

hen athletes from around the world descend upon London this summer for the XXX Olympiad — July 27 to August 12 — audiences will likely hear their fair share about the ideals of cross-cultural understanding and global peace through athletic competition, as envisioned by Baron de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic movement . But such platitudes obscure a far more obscene truth . If war is politics by other means, sport may be war minus shooting, as George Orwell once noted . Fans of the Beautiful Game will appreciate this insight every four years when the World Cup rolls around .

Globalization might have weakened the virus of national- permeate and percolate through society . Conscious of this con- ism, but football (soccer, as we call it in Canada) gives it a dition, politicians of various ideological hues have used sports vibrant, sometimes virulent if not violent, boost . Even if one to advance their agenda . Particularly dictators have relied on disagrees with Orwell, athletic competitions are more than it to direct, or more importantly, divert attention, as General just bloodless contests of strength, speed and agility . They are Franco did in Spain for most of his rule . revelatory, esthetic experiences, in the most general sense, that With this in mind, this list compiles the top 10 sporting capture their surrounding context in all its complexities . events that include a discernible political dimension . Criteria Consider the violence that erupted in Egypt after support- for selection include the context of the event, its immediate ers of the al-Masry football team attacked fans of a rival Cairo impact and its (potential) long-term consequences . Other team, al-Ahly, in Port Said in early February, leaving at least criteria include geographical, cultural and athletic diversity . 73 dead . While some North American commentators could Granted, this list might be subjective and could easily read not resist framing this incident as yet another “soccer riot” quite differently . And, as Ian Buruma, a latter-day Orwell demeaning the sport, this tragedy actually reflected much reminds us, “most right-thinking people are a bit like de deeper political tensions within Egyptian society as it deals Coubertin . Tribal emotions are embarrassing, and dangerous with the unfolding aftermath of the Arab Awakening . Sport, when given free rein ”. But they exist nonetheless and it is un- in this sense, projects the deeper attitudes and anxieties that likely that they will ever go away .

37 Di spatches|GAMES

1. Sino-American Ping-Pong Diplomacy

little ball, when hit across a wooden table with paddles slightly larger than human palms, can make a big difference . Such was the case with ping-pong diplo- Amacy, a series of exhibition matches in the early 1970s between the American and Chinese ping-pong teams that (pardon the pun) set the table for the normalization of relations between the United States and China . The chill of the Cold War had frozen diplomatic relations between the countries since 1949 when Mao Tse-tung had pro- claimed the People’s Republic of China following his victory against Nationalist forces of General Chiang Kai-shek, an American ally . Feeling increasingly isolated in the late 1960s, Mao tried to sharpen his profile on the hives c international stage by reaching out to Washington, where Republican Richard Nixon had r A won office in 1968 . Nixon, whose political career began with baiting reds, also sought better relations with China . “We simply cannot afford to leave China outside the family ational ational N .

of nations,” he said . The first opening occurred on March 21, 1971 during an informal S . meeting of American and Chinese ping-pong players at the world championships in Ja- U pan . Intrigued, Mao eventually invited the American team to China . As Jung Chang and Mao Tse-tung meets U.S. President Richard Jon Halliday write in their splendid biography Mao: The Unknown Story, the well orches- Nixon in Beijing in February, 1972. trated, “dazzling” welcome for the American players had its desired effect . The story of their visit “jumped off the sports pages and onto the front page,” creating the right climate for Nixon to visit China in 1972, with far-reaching consequences for both sides . While this commentary hardly captures the complexity of the American-Sino relationship before and after 1972, its history might have taken a different turn had it not been for ping-pong diplomacy, a perspective shared by participants, such as Chinese Premier Chou En-lai . “Never before in history,” he said “has a sport been used so effectively as a tool of international diplomacy ”.

fielded fully independent teams . While seemingly counterintuitive, this division reflected the West German Ostpolitik of seeking improvements for Germans on both sides of the Iron Curtain by tearing down encrusted political positions in rec- ognizing East Germany . The Munich games were also the first for many newly independent countries from the developing world . And yet, the long-term legacy of German fascism reared its head once more during the games, when the Palestinian terror group Black September took 11 members of the Israeli team hostage to press for the

anske freedom of comrades . The situation — M broadcast live no less — careened into a

agnus catastrophe when ill-equipped German se- M curity forces attempted to rescue the eight A memorial plaque in Munich to the slain Israeli athletes reads (as translated from German surviving hostages . and Hebrew): "The team of the State of Israel stayed in this building during the 20th Olym- They, along with five of their abduc- pic Summer Games from Aug. 21 to Sept. 5, 1972. On Sept. 5, [list of victims] died a violent tors and one German police officer, died death. Honour to their memory." during a lengthy fire exchange that ex- posed countless deficiencies in security preparations . The incident cast a dark 2. 1972 Summer Olympics shadow upon the rest of the competition and reminded everyone, but particularly hen West Germany hosted the many, one conscious of its dark past, but Germans, that the root causes of the 1972 Summer Olympics in the comfortable, if not optimistic, about its fu- Israeli-Palestinian conflict reach back into WBavarian capital of Munich, ture ahead . Several aspects of the Munich their own country, if not Munich itself — officials spared no effort to exorcise the games accentuated this atmosphere of the former residence and political training memories of 1936 . Munich, so the message departure . For one, it was the first Olym- ground of a failed Viennese artist, Adolf went, would come to represent a new Ger- piad in which West and East Germany Hitler .

38 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN GAMES|Di spatches ibrary of Congress ibrary L Joe Louis and Max Schmeling in 1936: racism in the ring

3. 1936 Summer Olympics

he politics of race and racism loomed large whenever German and American athletes met following the rise of fascism in Germany . When the “Brown Bomber” TJoe Louis knocked out Max Schmeling during their 1938 rematch at Yankee Sta- dium, he did not just defeat another boxer who had beaten him earlier . He beat an “associate” of Adolf Hitler, an unfair affiliation, since Schmeling risked his own life to save two Jewish children . But if one accepts the proposition that Louis scored a technical victory against Hitler’s theory of Aryan supremacy, the knockout had happened two years earlier when another black athlete by the name of Jesse Owens, also from Louis’ segregated home state of Alabama, won four track and field gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin . As one may imagine, the Nazis did not care much for the idealistic notions of Baron de Coubertin . But they quickly realized the propaganda potential of the event, which Germany had received during the dying days of the Weimar Republic . What followed was a grandiose spectacle whose sophisticated staging revolutionized the technical pre- sentation and artistic dramaturgy of spectator sports . Easily recognized elements such as the torch relay and the use of lights had their beginnings in the Berlin of Nazi Germany, which itself turned in an illusory facade of state-enforced friendliness and racial tolerance . The international community was, of course, aware of the radical changes that had taken place in Germany since the Nazis had risen to power in 1933 and prominent — if not powerful — voices in the United States pushed unsuccessfully for a boycott to em- barrass the regime in light of its race laws . Fittingly, it was a competitor deemed to be American track athlete Jesse Owens at the racially inferior who discredited Hitler’s theories in a remarkable performance whose start of record-breaking 200-metre race memory has survived to this very day . When Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics, during the Olympic games 1936 in Berlin. the sight of Chinese soldiers goose-stepping their way through the opening ceremonies led faux conservative commentator Stephen Colbert to the conclusion that Owens was due to win another haul of medals . Behind the mirth and joking, though, lies the uncom- fortable feeling that the games in Berlin were not the last time a dictatorship signaled the apparent arrival of a new order .

diplomat and international canada 39 Di spatches|GAMES Corsair133693

This photo dates to February 15, 1956 at RCAF Station Calgary, Alberta with Lynn Garrison in cockpit. The Mustang 9281 was sold by the Canadian government to James De Furia of New York and subsequently flew with the El Salvadorian Air Force during the 1969 Football War. Collector Jerry Janes brought it back to Canada where it was restored and named "Cottonmouth."

4. Football War: El Salvador vs Honduras, July 1969

he Football War between El Salvador and Honduras in migrants in Honduras certainly did not sit well with wealthy July 1969 may have lasted only 100 hours, but it has since landowners in Honduras, including the United Fruit Company . Tbecome one of the most prominent, if not permanent, re- Their political pressure on the military leadership of Honduras minders that the dividing line between politics and sports is in- eventually led to nationalistic excesses against Salvadorans liv- deed a blurry one . The root causes of the war between these two ing in Honduras, a development that deepened historic tensions Central American neighbours reach back decades and reflect over a long-running border dispute . They escalated after El Sal- many of the issues that have riled the developing world: popu- vador had beaten Honduras on June 26, 1969 to qualify for the lation pressures, foreign influence, poverty and inept military 1970 World Cup in overtime during the third and final game of governance . a playoff series that had already featured several deadly clashes Two immutable conditions contributed to this conflict . between fans of both countries . Whereas El Salvador possessed twice the population of Hon- Less than a month after the game, El Salvador launched an at- duras in the late 1960s, Honduras is five times as large as its tack on Honduras to seek protection for its citizens living across neighbour . This made Honduras an attractive destination for Sal- the border . The short-but-sharp war that followed killed 6,000, in- vadorans, struggling to subsist in their homeland . While scholars jured twice as many and displaced some 50,000 people, according continue to debate whether the Football War is a preview of to the late Polish writer Ryszard Kapuściński. His famed account things to come as the human population continues to grow in of the incident in The Soccer War and the aftermath remains as ter- the face of finite resources, the large presence of Salvadoran im- rifyingly compelling and complex as the war itself .

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5. 1986 World Cup Quarterfinal: Argentina vs England, June 22, 1986

he football rivalry between England and Ar- gentina ranks among the oldest and fiercest Tin the world . But none of the matches played before and since this unforgettable quarterfinal has come close to matching its politically charged atmosphere off the pitch and the spectacular events on it . Played almost exactly four years after expedi- tionary forces of the United Kingdom had re-taken the Falklands Islands from Argentina, its Selección sought to secure a small but symbolic measure of revenge for the humiliating defeat their country had suffered . Granted, the footballers and fans on both sides had plenty of other reasons to feel passionate, even resentful, towards one another . As sports author John Carlin has noted, the ambiguous rivalry that defines these two nations runs deep . It dates back to the late 19th Century, when British entrepreneurs and engineers exported the Beautiful Game around the world, including Argentina, where they found an eager audience, whose skills and successes would eventually surpass those of their foreign tu- tors . England is still waiting to win its second World Cup, whereas Argentina will be aiming for its third title in 2016 . But this history has hardly stopped the English from feeling smug about their alleged superiority, if not on the pitch, but on the grand par- quet of international affairs, a long-forgotten feeling hotos which the Falklands War seemingly confirmed . P Thus both distant and recent history loomed in the background as the teams met on that memora- ll Canada ble day in June in front of almost 115,000 fans and a A global television audience . The sweltering afternoon lamy/ heat and humidity of Mexico City had turned its A

famed Estadio Azteca into a smoldering cauldron of hak / c rather sluggish play that did not cease until the 51st minute when Diego Maradona, standing 5-feet-5 inches, used his left hand to punch an errant ball avid Cherepus avid

past the 6-foot-1-inch English goalie Peter Shilton to D give Argentina the lead . © Unnoticed by the Tunisian referee, this illegal Diego Maradona, above in street graffiti and below during the World Cup final, goal has since entered Argentinean lore and English scored a truly divine — and winning — goal in the semi-final match between Ar- infamy as the Hand of God goal, a diabolic phrase gentina and England. His team went on to beat Germany in the final. by any measure . Six minutes later, Maradona did score a truly divine goal, this time with his feet after he had dribbled some 60 metres across the field, weaving past half of the English team, including Shilton . Gary Lineker’s goal with 10 minutes left in regulation was not enough to turn the tide as Argentina advanced to the semi-finals on its way to winning the World Cup 3-2 against West Germany . But this illustrious victory in the final paled against what had happened earlier, as former Argentina captain Roberto Perfumo told Carlin . “In 1986, winning that game against England was enough . Winning the World Cup that year was sec- ondary for us . Beating England was our real aim ”.

diplomat and international canada 41 Di spatches|GAMES

6. Lake Placid Winter Olympics Hockey Semi Final: USSR vs U.S., Feb. 22, 1980

o you believe in miracles? Yes! Unbelievable ”. Hockey “Dfans will immediately recognize this line as the concluding crescendo to one of the greatest upsets in sports history, the Miracle on Ice . Few, if anyone, gave the United States a ghost of a chance to defeat the Soviet Union . A collection of college players and genuine amateurs, the Americans faced one of the most formi- dable, if not feared, collective of hockey players ever assembled . Playing a creative, free-flowing style that destroyed every stereotype that western observers might have had about the regimented USSR, the Soviets had entered the tournament as the prohibitive team to beat in seeking their sixth title in seven Olympics . Whereas the Soviets had, for the most part, breezed their way through preliminary play, the Americans under coach Herb Brooke surprised many when they joined the Soviets in the semi-finals, winning more with brawn than with brain . But this contest was, of course, far more than just a clash of playing cultures . It was the Cold War, come to life, in the crowded confines of a hockey rink in Lake Placid, where more than 8,500 fans watched the scrappy Americans score two third-period goals to win 4-3 . Stunningly, most Americans did not watch the game live, unless they lived A keepsake poster from the Miracle on Ice game in Lake Placid. along the Canadian border . A long time ago, in a media galaxy far, far away from the instant universe of Twitter, the game aired on ABC some five hours after Al Mi- chaels’ famous call . Notwithstanding such delays, the geo-political context could not have been more apparent . Nightly broad- casts before, during and after the Olym- pics reminded American audiences daily that Iranian revolutionary forces were holding 52 of their fellow citizens hostage . And when the two teams skated on the ice, Soviet troops had been in Afghanistan for almost two months, a development that would eventually inspire the United States to boycott the 1980 Summer Olym- ibrary of Congress ibrary L pics held in Moscow . An Iran hostage crisis demonstration, Washington, D.C.

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7. The Super Bowl

lmost 40 years ago, scholar Michael Real published an utes to American armed forces serving abroad . This unapologetic academic paper in which he probed the cultural signifi- instrumentalization merely amplified the militaristic overtones of Acance of Super Bowl Viii . He defined American football the sport itself and reached a tragic apogee when the George W . as “an aggressive, strictly regulated team game fought between Bush administration continued its pattern of deception by lying males who use both violence and technology to win monopoly about the 2004 battlefield death of Pat Tillman, a star NFL player control of property for the economic gain of individuals within who forewent fame and fortune to join the U S. . Rangers with his a nationalistic, entertainment context ”. Real concluded the brother after 9/11 . game projected the “sexual, racial and organi- Initial reports framed Tillman’s death in Af- zational priorities” of American culture during ghanistan in a heroic light, a narrative that did the Cold War . Much has changed geopolitically not hold up against the facts . An investigation since this conclusion, but its essence remains eventually identified friendly fire as cause of as cogent as it was in 1975 . The Super Bowl is death . Subsequent reports claim that Tillman more than just a title game to decide the cham- might have been deliberately murdered . While pion of the National Football League (NFL), the it is rather difficult to confirm such claims, richest sports league in the world with $9 bil- journalists such as Jon Krakauer (Where Men lion in annual revenues . Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman) and David The game, if not the sport itself, is a canvas of Zirin of the Nation have kept this story alive, American attitudes . Arguably no recent era has likely to the chagrin of the NFL . Its commemo- confirmed this critical explanation more clearly ration of 9/11 on its 10th anniversary featured rmy A

than the post 9-11 period when NFL games, . the usual patriotic pronouncements, but re- S . including its hyperbolic title games, routinely U mained silent about Tillman, who had become a feature touching, but ultimately uncritical trib- One-time footballer Pat Tillman critic of U S. . policy in Iraq before his death . reamstime D

Confetti is blasted out of cannons and onto the football field at the end of the 2011 Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, where the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers.

diplomat and international canada 43 Di spatches|GAMES

8. Cricket Diplomacy

verage sports fans in North Amer- ica and Europe might be rather Apuzzled, if not perplexed, should they ever encounter terms such as wicket, bowler and over . Not so in many Com- monwealth countries in the Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia, where cricket is even more popular than the world’s most popular sport, football (soccer) . While cricket shares little in common with soccer, it too has become a meta- phorical vessel for the ambitions and anxieties of entire nations . Nowhere is this dynamic more divisive, if not decidedly dangerous for the rest of the globe, than on the Indian sub-conti- nent, where the most passionate practi- tioners of the sport — India and Pakistan — also happen to be regional rivals, each bearing an arsenal of religious, economic and political grievances towards the other, each possessing a stockpile of nuclear weapons . But if cricket matches between India and Pakistan approximate the dark tar photo tar tensions that have long defined these two S nations, they may also brighten the mood, oronto

as it happened during the 2011 World T Cup, when the prime ministers of both

countries watched together the semi-final ennon / L match between their respective countries . rank India, for the record, won the game and F the world title . China, another emerging Team Canada's Paul Henderson, embraced by teammate Yvan Cournoyer, celebrates his global player, has also recognized the im- series-winning goal in Game 8 of the Canada-Soviet hockey series on Sept. 28, 1972. portance of cricket by funding the sport in the Caribbean to undermine Taiwan . If recent geo-political trend lines continue, 9. 1972 Summit Series: USSR-Canada sporting fans unfamiliar with beamers and stumps might do well to learn a new esigned to deepen the Detente of the early 1970s, this series of eight exhibition vocabulary . games between the former Soviet Union and Canada quickly descended into Da clash of hockey cultures and ideological systems . While these two hockey superpowers had met on the ice before, most notably in 1955 when an amateur team from Penticton, B C. . claimed the world championships on behalf of Canada by beating the USSR in West Germany, this Summit Series ushered in a new era in international hockey . For one, technological advancements in broadcasting made the games available to far larger audiences, thereby raising the emotional stakes . Both countries also sent their best players over the boards in justifying the title of what was otherwise a manufactured contest . A sense of casualness definitely ran through the ranks of the National Hockey League professionals who represented Can- ada, at least during the first half of the tournament played in Canada . Tipped to beat the USSR with relative ease, Canada dropped the opening 7-3 in losing two out of four home games . Humiliated and booed by their own fans, the Canadians recovered their form as the series resumed in Russia, winning two out of three games heading into the eighth and deciding match . (An earlier tie gave each country three wins and three losses ). Needing a win to overcome a better Russian goal differential, Canada scored twice in third period to tie the game at five . With 34 seconds left, Paul Henderson achieved hockey immortality by scoring the winning goal after being left alone in front of the Rus- reamstime sian net . This dramatic conclusion to what had been a nasty, even brutish affair on and D Fans in Colombo, Sri Lanka cheer their team off the ice immediately achieved mythical status . To this day, Canadians of a certain age at the Cricket World Cup 2011 final against will likely know exactly where they were when they heard legendary broadcaster Foster India. India won. Hewitt announce the winning goal .

44 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN GAMES|Di spatches

10. 1995 Rugby World Cup

he first major sporting event to be staged in South Africa world’s most influential sporting events . While the actual ef- following apartheid, this competition confirmed the re- fects of such sanctions remain debatable, their lifting restored Tturn of the country to the community of nations . While the country’s national pride . But this form of international res- South Africa had retained membership in some international toration would be meaningless had domestic reconciliation not sporting bodies during the apartheid era, including the Inter- accompanied it . national Rugby Board, its segregationist policies eventually Nelson Mandela — who had every reason to disdain, even led to the country’s exclusion from FIFA, the world governing mock the symbols of his former white jailers — wore the jersey body of football, and the International Olympic Committee . of the Springboks, South Africa’s rugby team, when it upset the Granted, this international banishment did not affect all highly favoured All Blacks of New Zealand in the tournament South African athletes . (White) South Africans competing in final . Yes, this event followed by the 2010 World Cup did not fix individual sports continued to have careers . But the message the many social problems that continue to plague South Africa behind the banishment was clear . The international community after the end of apartheid . At the very least, they offer a mea- would deny South Africa the prestige of participating in the sure of temporary comfort and a chance for collective solidarity . reamstime D

Nelson Mandela, shown in 2006, wore the jersey of South Africa's rugby team, the Springboks, when they won the Rugby World Cup against the New Zealand All Blacks in 1995. In the 2010 photo above, the Sprinkboks and All Blacks have a rematch.

Wolfgang Depner’s most recent publication, Readings in Political Ideologies since the Rise of Modern Science, co-edited by Dr . Barrie McCullough, is scheduled

hoto for release by Oxford University Press P

UN Canada in 2013 .

diplomat and international canada 45 Di spatches|OPERATION ATTENTION Confessions of a Canadian mentor in Afghanistan By James Parker

peration Attention — that’s us! Over here! Canada’s involvement Oin Afghanistan did not end with the conclusion of combat operations in the fall of 2011 — although much of the Canadian population thinks otherwise . It is not surprising really . Canadians are tired of their troops being in combat and calling them “mentors” is an easy way for the government to make the job sound safer . There are approximately 920 of us in Kabul as part of the aforementioned Op Attention and indeed our primary role is to act as advisers, in varying trades and capacities, to the Afghan National Army (ANA), air force and police . Operation Attention came into existence in May 2011, approximately six months before the withdrawal of our combat troops from Kandahar in the south . Our rotation was known as “Roto 0,” the first deployment of Canadian Forces personnel to this operation . Any Roto 0 is considered a template-maker, a first kick at the can . And our deployment was precisely that . Think about it: How do you train to be an adviser in a war zone — Kabul — in MDN a Muslim country? The combat troops -

spent six months (or more) before leaving DND Canada, training in mock Afghan villages, set up at CFB Wainwright in Alberta . Ac- es © 2011 tors played Afghan villagers and Taliban c or insurgents . After months of practising F tactics over and over and over again, these soldiers were sharp and ready to go . Training for Op Attention, on the other ilson, Canadian

hand, brought a disparate group of Cana- W dian Forces personnel together in various ory ory parts of the country (though primarily in R CFB Edmonton, Alberta) . We were a mix

of regular and reserve forces . We were aster Cpl. army, navy and air force . We were sig- M nalers, engineers, logisticians, officers, Warrant Officer Tim MacCormac demonstrates how to prepare a charge to dispose of unex- enlisted, NCOs, infantry, artillery and ar- ploded ordnance during a class with Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers. mour . You can credit Paul Hellyer’s rather messy unification of the Canadian Forces medical, dental, public affairs, logistics, “hodge-podgeness” is a strength that the in the late 1960s for this odd mix . The one supply and most other support trades . Canadian Forces bring to whatever mis- good thing Hellyer achieved was to bring The only difference would be the uniform sion they take on because of its inherent all the support trades together for training they wore . adaptability that so many militaries lack . purposes . In other words, a navy cook, an Thus I became part of Op Attention So what is a naval reserve logistician army cook and an air force cook all go to — a naval reserve logistics officer on a doing on a mission such as Op Attention? the same cooking school . Likewise, the primarily regular force army mission . This I asked myself that several times during

46 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN OPERATION ATTENTION|Di spatches

pre-deployment training and while on the deployment itself . I was driven to ap- ply for this deployment for the standard reasons: mid-life crisis, glory, a desire to help, to serve my country — and the medals, the money, the adventure . At 57, I had failed the navy’s fitness test twice in a row and was on the verge of being turfed from the organization I loved . If I wanted to go to Afghanistan, I had to pass the fitness test, so talk about incentive . For several months in Victoria, I worked hard at regaining my fitness . Then the day arrived and I found myself ner- vously standing on CFB Esquimalt’s gym- nasium floor . First up was the damned “beep test” that got me every time . [The beep test is synchronized to an audio track, in which, at each beep, the runner has to speed up to keep up ]. My short legs had to work twice as hard to cover the same distance that my long-legged com- panions seemed to stride over with ease . Nevertheless, I passed . I survived this and sit-ups, push-ups, the grip test and pre- test medical . It must have been quite difficult for the “highers”, as our leaders are called, to create a training regimen that would prepare us for this version of an Afghan deployment . We weren’t preparing for combat, but the situation was still dangerous . We were going to be working directly with the ANA officers and soldiers on their turf — an interesting dynamic where you would know who your enemy was and yet you would not be sure of the dependability of your own ally . We were placed in extremely good hands at CFB Edmonton — those of the Writer Jim Parker after Remembrance Day Ceremonies at Camp Alamo. “3VP,” the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patri- cia’s Canadian Light Infantry (whose armour (total weight: 24 kilograms), all to leave and my group — the headquarters Colonel-in-Chief is the former Gov . Gen . be marched in two hours and 20 minutes component — has spent five weeks on Adrienne Clarkson) . This light infantry or less . Not only that . Upon completion, the firing ranges, day and night, practic- regiment is famous for the action of its one had to drag a comrade of equivalent ing patrols and weapons handling . One second battalion at Kapyong during the weight one hundred feet and move a pile lecture series was not particularly helpful, Korean War and all its battalions during of pea gravel with a shovel to simulate although the intent was valid . This was both world wars . Despite being incred- digging a trench . our two days of “cultural awareness ”. ibly busy already, with its soldiers spread With one arm hanging completely It was presented by three Afghans (now around the world, 3VP was to be the numb, my back and feet afire and my Canadian federal government employees) “force generating” organization for Roto 0 spirit ready to pack it in, my saviour was who had not been in Kabul for several of Operation Attention . one of the Roto’s two padres, Major Al years . In a show of misplaced patriotism, Warrant Officer Chuck Côté and his Murphy . A man of constant and infectious they showed us old slides of markets, fine team took us through small arms train- good humour, he paced me the last half of homes and assured us that Kabul was ing, cultural awareness studies, kitting the 13 5. kilometres . Padre Murphy kept a perfectly safe place for a westerner to up, patrolling, mine- and IED-awareness, me hydrated, told bad jokes, adjusted walk around . Two of our soldiers who had convoys, more paperwork, more medicals my heavy kit and simply would not let served in Kabul the previous year were and dentals . My own nemesis was the me quit, which I really wanted to do . I absolutely gob-smacked . They told stories dreaded BFT: the Battle Fitness Test . In finished last, perhaps over the time limit . of a Kabul that was now the spawning order to deploy, everyone has to pass this Thanks Padre . ground and home of the Taliban, where, ordeal: 13 5. kilometres, wearing full fight- By this time, it’s close to the middle if one were infidel, as a westerner, he/she ing order, including tactical vest and body of July 2011 . We have had a period of was in grave danger .

diplomat and international canada 47 Di spatches|OPERATION ATTENTION

Now it was time to go: Edmonton- ute and everybody armed with at least a all travel here must be done in convoy . In Gander-Germany-Kuwait-Kabul-Afghan- sidearm and some armed with side arm our case, this meant several vehicles inter- istan . Two days of flying and we arrived . and rifle . spersed with giant, heavily armoured and Shortly thereafter, I began to wonder what We now had to get from the airport armed tactical vehicles . The passengers I had gotten myself into . to our camp . Conveyed by armoured are told to “watch their arcs” for potential For many years, along with being a vehicles of varying sizes, we crammed suicide vehicles and bombers . Until we naval reservist, I was a physical education ourselves in, wearing “FFO” — full fight- reach our camp, I am rigid and on the teacher at a prep school in Victoria, B C. . ing order: helmets, flak and tactical vests, edge of my seat, staring out into the night, Despite wearing a uniform for almost 25 weapons, ammo and more . I would learn while the vehicle’s radio played American years, including on a previous deploy- quickly that everyone modified his/her rock ‘n’ roll . ment to Sudan, I still have a civilian tactical vests but always, always, one car- A new type of war fighting exists here . mindset . Upon arriving at the military ried as much 5 56. ammo as he/she could The standard Taliban tactics of IEDs — airport in Kabul, and after sorting out our carry in the pouches on the vest . The planted IEDs, VBIEDS (vehicle-borne mountainous piles of kit, we lined up to regular force guys, the “vets,” had their IEDs), suicide bombers — all exist “out- be issued weapons, ammunition and bal- own equipment brought from Edmonton, side the wire ”. Now, however, we also listic plates for our body armour . This was sometimes purchased on their own . (One have to be concerned about inside the when it hit me, that I was in a wholly dif- of the lessons learned by the army in wire, right where we live, in the various ferent place with different rules . Afghanistan south was the unsuitability camps around Kabul . Whether it is insur- I watched my colleagues, some veter- of the current tac vests, the kind I wore, gents sneaking in, an ANA soldier turned ans of several deployments, and tried to with too few ammo pouches and not traitor or frontal attacks, lethal contact has copy their nonchalance and cheery chat- easy-enough access to side arms and am- happened more frequently of late . Known ter . But inside, I wasn’t cool . The airport munition ). as a ”green on blue,” for example, is a dis- reminded me of what I thought Vietnam I’m crammed into this armoured ve- gruntled ANA soldier, turning his weapon must have been like . Starkly lit, armoured hicle driven by two American sergeants, on coalition forces — and four French vehicles everywhere, helicopters and other with a dozen other people, weapons soldiers are killed and 17 wounded . In this craft taking off and landing every min- poking out everywhere . I find out that instance, the French soldiers are unarmed . arker P James

When MCpl Byron Greff was killed by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while on an armoured NATO bus, his three closest friends, Cpl. Denzil Wilson, Cpl. Chevy O'Neil and Cpl. Steven Wilson, came up with the idea of creating a velcroed poppy patch to be sold to soldiers, with funds raised going to Greff’s young family. Many still wear the poppy patch under a pocket or in their field hats.

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The soldier, as it turns out, is angry at the ‘Lucy’, a popular former bomb sniffer dog out my bits of the Dari language on them; American soldiers who desecrated the and her handler . The 200-plus Canadians disdain, resentment and anger for my be- bodies of Taliban men by urinating on were gathered in the camp square and ing here and sometimes an unfathomable them . told the sad news about MCpl Greff . The look that I cannot decipher . This “inside the wire warfare” drives silence and sadness were palpable . Is being an adviser/mentor “combat?” the type of weapons training we do . The MCpl Greff’s three closest friends here If you listen to our government, we are “QRDs,” or quick reaction drills, are prac- at Camp Alamo came up with the idea not in combat, but safely “behind the tised over and over, much of it practised of creating a velcroed poppy patch to wire” in classrooms . This is true, in that at our desks, in our offices . I’m not sure be worn on our uniforms and sold to all some of us are not going out on patrols what this would be called . “Interior Urban the soldiers, with funds raised going to as they were in the south, into Taliban Warfare,” perhaps? Greff’s young family . The idea took off country . However, the number of frag- We practised drawing our side arms like wildfire, with demands for the patch gings, the death of MCpl Greff, the man- from sitting in a chair, behind a desk . This coming from all across Kabul and from ner in which we suit up in full personal adaptation has been driven by the sad Canada . Several thousand dollars were protective gear with weapons, and even case of nine Americans killed last year at raised and to this day, many of us still the fact that we travel in heavily armed the Kabul airport by an angry Afghan Air wear the poppy patch, under a pocket or and heavily armoured vehicles leads me Force officer during an argument . None of in our field hats, because it is no longer to think that this is indeed “combat,” and the nine had pulled their weapons . Some, authorized for wear on our uniforms . As Kabul is “outside the wire” . It is danger in however, had their cellular phones in their the patch says, “We will remember you, different disguises . As I look at the young hands . So we continue to practise on our Byron Greff ”. men and women going out every day, the own and on the ranges and in dry runs throaty sounds of their armoured vehicles in the camps . You might imagine how we bellowing into the crisp morning air, I tell feel, whenever we walk by armed ANA myself that soldiers have been doing this soldiers . For my part, I am hyper-alert and for centuries . Only their transport and keeping a leery eye, and mentally add the weapons change . stress of this to the other stressors . It is early days yet but I believe there is As I observe the Canadian soldiers in some possibility that this mission, going at this multi-national environment, I can- least until 2014, may have more impact on not help but believe they stand head and Afghanistan, over the long term, than our shoulders above the soldiers of the other combat operations out of Kandahar did . nations here . I hear much scuttlebutt The coalition forces are helping to create around the camps to support this . Cana- a national army and police force from the dian soldiers have the shortest hair, the ground up . best carriage and deportment and are gen- The only part missing, I feel, is that we erally the smartest dressed, even though should be doing the same with the Afghan their uniforms are slightly dated com- government . I’m not sure that one can suc- arker pared to their international colleagues . P ceed without the other . Perhaps we should (Fortunately, this will change next year, send some of our Canadian parliamentar- James when they are to be issued the latest in ians to help with this . The Kandahar mis- combat wear ). The poppy patch in memory of MCpl Greff; sion’s goal was to overwhelm and move All the soldiers take terrific pride in the Parker gave his to Senator Pamela Wallin the Taliban out of a certain area . This Ka- units they belong to and do not hesitate and told her not to forget the soldiers in bul mission is much like giving a farmer to “jack up” another soldier for “letting Kabul. the grain and teaching him how to farm, down the side ”. I am by no means a pro- rather than just giving him a tractor . fessional soldier and these young fellers Afghanistan is an emotional and sur- In other words, if we are successful, we are continually saying, “Sir, you should real place for this naval reservist . Our will have helped create a national security have your hat on ”. Or, “Sir, do you really little Camp Alamo is a small bastion of system that can stand and operate on its want to wear your holster that way?” Or, approximately 600 soldiers from several own . They, the Afghans, do not need to be “Sir, perhaps time for a haircut?” and so nations, built in the middle of the Kabul told who the enemy is . on . I take it all in good humour, knowing Military Training Centre, which houses I want to believe that the tremendous they care about how “we” look compared and trains 10,000 ANA soldiers . As this is efforts expended and lives forfeited by the to the other countries here . a mentoring/advising mission, most of us coalition forces here will help this country Prepare as we might for worst-case spend time with our Afghan counterparts and its warm, wonderful and generous scenarios, sometimes there is nothing on “their side ”. I simply cannot put into people . Truly they deserve it . we can do . This was sadly the case when words the dichotomy between the Afghan MCpl Byron Greff was killed by a VBIED soldier and your typical Canadian soldier . Lieutenant and naval reservist James while on an armoured NATO bus, tak- Inadequately dressed for winter Parker returned home to Victoria in ing him back to his camp after returning weather, poorly fed and vastly underpaid, March, after serving eight months on Op from leave . His comrades here and at the these Afghan soldiers still have the abil- Attention . With only two years left in the other camps were devastated by the death ity the laugh and to play amongst them- Canadian Forces, he plans to volunteer of this popular young man . Also killed selves . I see different expressions on the in a civilian role for another mission with on the bus were several others including faces of these soldiers . Laughter, as I try the UN or NATO .

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Diplomatic ad_s-class2b.indd 1 3/13/12 10:58:38 AM Di spatches|Security vs. defence Military alliances: a primer Why NATO, however ambiguous its role, is here to stay

By David G. Haglund NATO NATO headquarters in Brussels

lliances represent the most long- rity arrangements; third, whether they something out there, in the international lived form of institutionalized are, from the ethical perspective, posi- system, threatens them, and that they Asecurity and defence cooperation tive, negative, or neutral aspects of global agree to pool their resources as a means that contemporary international states politics; and fourth, how and why they of enabling them better to deter or defend have ever known . In fact, they are even evolve, and what this tells us about their against that apprehended threat . Theirs is older than these states themselves — life expectancy . I will centre my analysis the logic limned so appropriately in this which, as a system of government, likely around the premier alliance of our time, quatrain from Lewis Carroll’s nonsense date back to 1648, in the immediate af- the North Atlantic Treaty Organization poem, The Hunting of the Snark: termath of the cataclysmic Thirty Years’ (NATO), with reflections on other col- War . No one can really say when the first lective-defence arrangements into which “But the valley grew narrow and nar- alliances between discrete political enti- Canada and its partners have entered . rower still, ties sprang up, but we certainly know that Probably the best, or at least the most And the evening got darker and colder, Thucydides had a central place for them elegant, definition has been supplied by Till (merely from nervousness, not from in his account of the Peloponnesian War Harvard Professor Stephen M . Walt, who goodwill) back in the 5th Century BC . (in The Origins of Alliances, 1987) wrote: They marched along shoulder to shoulder.” More important, however, than trying “I define alliance as a formal or informal to date the origins of those numerous al- relationship of security cooperation be- In short, the logic of collective defence liances that have dotted the history of our tween two or more sovereign states . This is, at the outset, a logic of fear and, just as “own” system from the mid 17th Century definition assumes some level of commit- with the Butcher and the Beaver of Car- to the present, is the business of trying to ment and an exchange of benefits for both roll’s poem, states forming alliances do so say something useful about why alliances parties . ”. In the nature of things, there is because they seek the safety that numbers form, and how they function . In this es- much room for nuance insofar as the ob- might provide against a tangible threat . say, I pose four key questions regarding ligations and benefits of membership are The manner in which they choose to pool alliances, asking: first, what alliances are; concerned, but the core thought contained their resources might be decided by means second, how they differ from other secu- in the definition is that allies sense that of a treaty (for example, the Washington

52 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN Security vs. defence|Di spatches

treaty of 1949 through which the U S. ,. (taken to mean those states that would threats to peace . Collective-security logic Canada, and 10 European countries cre- violate the territorial integrity of member- rests on an assumption that states act out ated NATO), or it can come about through states by invasion) . We can only be guided of a sense of “enlightened self-interest,” less formal mechanisms, such as the agree- by the conviction that if all “peace-loving” such that they understand why they ments and arrangements that brought into states agree to take stern measures (in- should involve themselves in conflicts that existence, in August 1940, the Canada-U .S . cluding military as well as economic mea- may erupt in parts of the world that might alliance, which remains America’s old- sures) against international scofflaws, then otherwise possess little or no strategic est unbroken alliance and Canada’s most very soon there will be no more scofflaws . importance to them . Collective defence, on important one . Whether treaty-created or For not only will actual aggressors find the other hand, is intended to safeguard not, there is an expectation that should their aggressions undone by the will of core, and immediately apparent (some collective action be required of an alliance, the community, but would-be aggressors say “vital”) interests — namely the pro- the members’ response will resemble that would see their malignant designs expire tection of the territorial integrity of one’s of Athos, Portos and Aramis — the three on the drawing-board, as they will have own group, not some hypothesized “in- musketeers of Alexandre Dumas — whose been deterred by the evidence of swift ternational community ”. The difference is watchword was “all for one, and one for and sure retribution against those who captured in Mark Twain’s quip that while all ”. The reality is otherwise, with the soli- did dare to aggress, and paid the price for anyone worth their salt might fight to de- darity pledge getting regularly honoured their daring . fend their own homes, no one has yet to more in the breach than in the observance . Needless to say, because it has such an encounter someone willing to risk life and To put limits on the concept of alli- ambitious agenda, collective security faces limb for the sake of their boarding house . ance, one can distinguish it from a related a much tougher challenge than collective Our third question concerns the ethical form of security and defence cooperation defence in demonstrating its effective- justification of alliances . It might seem, with which it is sometimes confused: the ness . For it to work, a couple of essential given what was said above, that as the significant, albeit sometimes poorly re- conditions must be in place . There must decks are stacked against collective-secu- spected, conceptual boundary separating first be an identification of the guilty party, rity arrangements, which pretty much get collective-defence arrangements from col- for unless one knows against which inter- adjudged to be feckless a priori, alliances lective-security ones . Usually, it is simply national miscreant(s) counter-measures must therefore inherit by default the moral sloppiness and not deliberate intent that are required, it is impossible to mobilize high ground, if only because they can accounts for the boundary transgressions them . The problem here is that most wars show at least some capacity for being able — as, for instance, when NATO is said to originate in such confusing circumstances to function . By comparison, the record of have found for itself a collective-security that it is no easy matter, even with the collective security in operation under the vocation after the Cold War . Those who benefit of hindsight, to figure out just League was abysmal, and not much im- make such assertions fail to notice how who or what actually “caused” them . For provement has been recorded during the profoundly collective security differs in in- collective security to work, there can be six-plus decades of the UN’s existence . spiration from collective defence — a dif- no waiting upon hindsight, given that It takes nothing away from the policy ference that shows up most starkly when counter-action must come swiftly if it is to successes of certain alliances to recall that we examine the charter mandates of the come at all . The collective-defence logic of the balance-of-power system possesses two premier organizations associated with alliances, on the other hand, is much sim- a rather severe downside of its own, and these respective logics, the United Nations pler to put into operation, since the adver- that the numerous collective-defence ar- (for collective security) and NATO (for sary has been identified from the outset: it rangements that were made and unmade collective defence) . was the state or group of states that pro- during that long period of time known The UN, just like its predecessor or- vided, after all, the alliance’s raison d’être . as the “era of multipolarity” — i e. ,. the ganization, the League of Nations, was No less important is a second consid- period spanning 1648 and 1945 — corre- founded on a wonderful vision, of pre- eration, regarding the stakes involved in lated with a system that was nothing if not serving peace through the concerted war-prone . Nor can it be denied that efforts of a collectivity seized of its it was disgust with both the balance- responsibilities to exercise vigilance of-power and the alliances it spawned against interstate aggression, no mat- that gave rise, albeit only for a brief ter where or when it might rear its time, to the dream of escaping the war ugly head . This vision was enshrined trap through collective security in the in the League’s covenant, and in aftermath of the two world wars of the the UN’s charter . It is a vision much 20th Century . nobler than the one that inspires col- So what can we say about the ethi- lective defence, and its operating cal merits of alliances, as a means of principle is certainly a different one maintaining peace? We can only say — so different that it stands as the an- that the record is mixed: It is an easy tithesis of the very “balance of power” matter to establish a strong correlation mechanisms that are part and parcel between alliances and great-power of the concept of an alliance . war — or at least it was easy so to do Unlike collective defence, collective during the era of multipolarity — thus security presupposes that we cannot The Potsdam Conference was held in the summer it is not hard to equate alliances with know in advance the identity of chal- of 1945. From left, Winston Churchill, Harry S Tru- death and destruction . Lately, though, lengers to the international status quo man and Joseph Stalin. the experts seem to have become con-

diplomat and international canada 53 Di spatches|Security vs. defence

vinced that the peril of great-power war is long in the past; yet, to the surprise of some, there is little evidence that the end of alliance can be expected any time soon . NATO keeps on going, defying many prophesies of impending demise . Bilateral defence and security ties abound in the contemporary system . Many of these link the U S. . with lesser partners (for example, its alliances with Japan and Israel, both dating from the 1960s), but some also involve such other countries as Russia (with its 1992 pact, misleadingly called the Col- lective Security Treaty Organization, linking it to Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) . Therefore, while it may be an easy matter to impli- cate alliances in conflicts, including great- power conflicts in days gone by, it is much more difficult a thing to imagine a world without alliances, or even to speculate that a world without alliances must be a peaceful world . In the end, the ethical merits of alliances, in general, get assessed against the record of the one alliance that seems to matter so much more than all of the others put together, and that, of course, is NATO . The thinking is that if NATO NASA is doing some good, then alliances can- Competition for space exploration supremacy was part of the Cold War. The U.S. reached not be said to be all bad . So, the fourth the moon in 1969. and final question assesses the manner in which this particular alliance has evolved . instance, in Libya this past year), resem- envisioned as a means of safeguarding the Earlier, I referred to the confusion that bles missions that the UN itself promotes . sovereign integrity of the member-states, has often attended discussions of NATO Indeed, at times it looks as if the UN has while humanitarian intervention, espe- activities after the ending of the Cold War contracted out some of its heaviest lifting cially in its current guise as a “responsibil- — activities that in the judgment of some to NATO . ity to protect,” presupposes that it might observers constituted proof that NATO’s Ergo, conclude these observers, if be necessary to use force to violate the purpose had now become collective secu- NATO does the things that the collective- sovereignty of member-states . That NATO rity . There are reasons for the confusion, security organization itself does (or wishes itself may be undertaking similar missions even if not good ones . Some who mistake to see done), then the alliance must also to the UN is, therefore, absolutely no basis today’s NATO for a collective-security have been transformed into a collective- for claiming it has given itself over to col- organization might suffer not from lack security organization . The problem with lective security . of memory but from remembering too this reasoning is that what the UN does, Exactly what, then, has NATO been do- much, for they would be recalling that and what it has been doing almost exclu- ing ever since the demise of the adversary the Declaration of the United Nations sively since its inception, is something that had been required for it to have come (January 1, 1942 ) was emphatically a quite different from collective security, a into existence — an adversary, moreover, pronouncement of alliance — of collec- dream that died once Cold War rivalries whose disappearance many believed, we tive defence — pitting our side (Canada, sundered the prospect of unity on the Se- now know how wrongly, would lead to the U S. ,. Britain, the Soviet Union, and curity Council, and a dream that only once NATO’s disappearance as well? For start- myriad other partners) against their side since then (in 1991 with the war to chase ers, it never has renounced its collective- (Germany, Japan, Italy and several lesser Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait) was al- defence mandate, any more than the UN states) . But this UN was radically differ- lowed to flicker briefly . has abandoned its mandate of collective ent in purpose from the UN that emerged Whatever we choose to call the security security . The organizations are similar in October 1945 . endeavours of the UN — preventative in another, more relevant, way: They are Others who commit the fallacy of diplomacy and peacekeeping were, for a each involved in undertakings that are deeming NATO to be a collective-security time, the names of choice, and later these only loosely deducible (if that) from those organization reason, not incorrectly, that became human security and humanitarian charter mandates . much of what the Western alliance has intervention — the endeavours are far re- If we can accept that NATO’s primary actually been doing in recent decades, moved from the logic of collective security . function during the Cold War was to starting with its involvement in Yugosla- You could almost say they turn on its head protect members from the prospect of via in the 1990s and continuing today (for that very logic, for collective security was Soviet territorial aggression against them,

54 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN Security vs. defence|Di spatches

ever an ally happened to be under attack . What Article 5 actually commits each ally to do is to “tak[e] forthwith, individually, and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force ”. In other words, allies may use military force to support an attacked ally, but they do not have to . They can do whatever they deem it best to do, including hardly anything at all . In any event, it bears stressing that Article 5 has been invoked a grand total of once in the alliance’s 63-year history,

viation following the attacks of 9/11, and that A the American response to this declara- aval aval

N tion of solidarity was, to put it mildly, one of restrained gratitude, a “thanks, but no thanks” reaction on the part of a useum of

M government that was still smarting from the negative “lessons learned” regard- ational ational ing the NATO (aka committee) way of N war — lessons gleaned from the Kosovo avy avy N .

S war two years earlier . The bad news here . U may be that the solidarity of allies is less U.S. Navy Douglas R4D and U.S. Air Force C-47 aircraft unload at Tempelhof Airport during than total . (If it were more genuine and the Berlin Airlift circa 1948. widespread, NATO would have long ago ceased to worry about the problem of we surely have to acknowledge that ever tiatives aimed at “security sector reform” “burden sharing” ). The good news is that since the disappearance of the USSR this in the new and aspirant member-states . it is as unlikely as it has always been that function has ceased to make any sense . The second function, glimpsed initially allies will be “entrapped” into going to Nor would simply replacing the Soviet first in Bosnia in 1995 and then four years war because one (or more) of their NATO Union with Russia really do much to ac- later in Kosovo, concerns conflict manage- partners happens to be fighting — unless, count for the survivability of the alliance, ment, encapsulated more and more under of course, they wish to join their ally in even if it is true that some of NATO’s cur- the heading of “stabilization” operations . combat . This simply means that NATO is rent 28 members are primarily worried This applies, in spades, to NATO’s most a coalition of the willing, not of the dra- about Russia when they scan their security ambitious commitment of the past two gooned . horizons . But this applies to only a small decades, the mission in Afghanistan, but it As such, this particular alliance shows minority — four states in particular (the can also be discerned in the recently con- little sign of ending, for what it would three Baltic republics and Poland); as for cluded air operations in Libya . take to close the book on NATO’s ex- the rest, when they think of how NATO Does this mean that there is nothing left istence would be a willingness of the relates to their respective national inter- to the old garment of collective defence, membership to fold it up . Despite a provi- ests, they produce a variety of responses, and that Athos, Portos and Aramis have sion in the Washington Treaty (Article 13) all of which have little or nothing to do little to say about today’s alliance? Yes, specifying the means by which a member with Russia . more or less; for a bit like nostalgia, col- can leave the alliance, no state has ever Indeed, if we had to generalize, the lective defence is not what it used to be . In thought of decamping, not even France safest thing to claim about the post-Cold fact, it never was what some people think in 1966 when it (temporarily) withdrew War activity of this regional security or- it was, and this for two reasons . First, there from the integrated military command of ganization is that it has busied itself with has been an unfortunate tendency for the alliance but not from the alliance itself . two primary functions, neither of which interpreters of NATO’s collective-defence Just the reverse: More states have wanted can be even remotely subsumed under a mandate, encapsulated in the Washington to join . Barring an unlikely American collective-security or a collective-defence treaty’s famous Article 5, to read too much defection from NATO, it is difficult to the mandate . The first of these, put into prac- into the solidarity commitment . I would point of being impossible to imagine this tice through NATO’s partnership and en- be a rich professor indeed if I had a nickel alliance disappearing . largement initiatives from the early 1990s for every time I have heard it remarked to the present, can be classified under the that Article 5 obliges member-states to David Haglund is a professor of political rubric “cooperative security,” or perhaps take military reprisals against anyone who studies at Queen’s University in Kings- even better can be expressed as an in- dares to attack an ally . The article does not ton . His most recent books are The North junction to spread the “democratic zone do this . Some allies, for instance Iceland, Atlantic Triangle Revisited: Canadian Grand of peace” by enhancing the prospects of do not even have a military; others, as in Strategy at Century’s End (2000); and Over liberal-democratic institutions taking root the majority, are keen on nothing so much Here and Over There: Canada-U.S. Defence in newly democratizing member-states . as limiting the liability that might be theirs Cooperation in an Era of Interoperability Often this process is accompanied by ini- if they really did have to go to war when- (2001) .

diplomat and international canada 55 Di spatches|ARAB SPRING Sunrise over Yemen mail4mobile E

Protests at Sana’a University start with hundreds in February 2011 and grow to thousands in March and hundreds of thousands in April.

emen, an Arab country and one having attained Independence from the of the oldest centres of civiliza- Ottoman Empire in 1918, and the southern Ytion, presides over one of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, busiest and most crucial shipping routes which had been under British rule from in the world . Bordered by Saudi Arabia, 1839-1967 . On May 22, 1990, a united Ye- the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of men was formed and northern President Aden and Oman, it comprises more than Ali Abdullah Saleh became president of 555,000 square kilometres with some the new Republic of Yemen . However, the 2,000 kilometres of coast and in excess of fusion of two countries with incompatible 200 islands (including the famous natural systems led to a bitter civil war in 1994 . paradise of Socotra) . Yemen’s popula- The South was defeated on July 7 of that tion is approximately 24 million, with a year – a resentment that still lingers . By Khaled Bahah growth rate of 3 4. percent and a GDP per Sadly, true democracy eluded the Ambassador of Yemen capita of US$1,118 . people of Yemen under Saleh . A cun- Prior to 1990, there were two Yemens ning political survivor, he structured an — the northern Yemen Arab Republic, impenetrable power base of nepotism,

56 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN ARAB SPRING|Di spatches ewspaper N emen Y ational ational N Ali Abdullah Saleh, right, hands Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi the flag of Yemen. placing his sons, brothers and nephews, has intensified since 2007 due to the re- tion . Demonstrators were critical of the along with members of his inner circle, in gime’s northern bias and discrimination . president and demanded change . Violent control of the main military and security Yemen has also been a victim of ter- crackdowns by security forces ensued . forces . His outer circle encompassed the rorism since the 2000 bombing of the USS However, unlike former insurgencies, tribal and religious elite, with influence Cole in Aden Harbour . While the U S. . Yemenis refused to be silenced, and their extending to key political and commercial considers Saleh an ally in the fight against numbers grew . The revolution was initi- stakeholders . His oppressive regime ex- terrorism, many Yemenis argue that he ated by the determined courage of youth ploited Yemen’s resources and people for collaborates with al-Qaeda when it is ad- to fight for a better life, using the informa- a staggering 33 years . vantageous to him . The chaos of 2011 has tion highway as a pivotal tool to organize In recent years, rumblings of discontent served to strengthen al-Qaeda’s presence protest and create real-time witnesses mounted against Saleh, with a strengthen- in isolated southern pockets . all over the world . But ultimate change ing of opposition parties, primarily the Saleh, a former military man with evolved through the heroic struggles of all Joint Meeting Parties — a coalition which negligible education, is the most Machia- Yemenis — standing united, demanding includes the southern Socialist Party and vellian of Arab autocrats . Throughout his liberation . the powerful but fragmented northern rule, he has been a capricious man of Prior to January, Saleh had proposed Islah Party . broken promises — justifying his erratic constitutional amendments, relinquishing Tribal unrest is led by the Al Ahmar behaviour by likening the ruling of Ye- both his right to be president in perpetuity family of the powerful Hashid tribe, from men to “dancing on the heads of snakes ”. and the inferred inheritance of the title by which Saleh hails . Though they were allies However, a Tunisian fruit-seller’s suicide his son . Once rioting broke out, he chose of Saleh under the late Abdullah Al Ah- began the chain of events that brought to withdraw these proposals . When this mar, his son Hamid opposes the president Saleh’s dancing to an end . had no effect to bring calm, the regime and has been joined by several brothers Given such disenchantment with the manufactured pro-Saleh demonstrations who resigned from the Saleh regime . regime, Yemen has been a vigorous partic- outside the presidential palace . However, Since 2004, the northern Houthis have ipant in the contagious revolution known the demand for Saleh’s resignation contin- led a rebellion against the government . as the Arab Spring, which has mesmerized ued, joined by many tribal people . Their grievances include religious and the world, altering the destiny of millions . Tragedy struck March 18, as troops economic marginalization concerns; while Rioting broke out in mid-January, 2011, massacred more than 56 civilians in in the south, an independence movement signifying the start of Yemen’s revolu- Change Square, Sana’a . A state of emer-

diplomat and international canada 57 Di spatches|ARAB SPRING

gency was declared, and the following immunity continues to be a sore point for day, nine Yemeni ambassadors, including Yemenis, it was the only means to an end . myself in Ottawa, wrote to the president In Northern Yemen, voter turnout was condemning the massacres . International significant and the election was peaceful . outrage was sparked, and by March 23, The south called for rejection of the elec- Brigadier Ali Mohsen al Ahmar declared tion and, as a result, voter turnout was support for the revolution, representing a low, consisting almost entirely of north- serious high-level military rupture, while ern troops stationed there . Although this several Yemeni governorates split from underscores the massive efforts required government control . to create future cooperation and trust, it’s In response to increasing violence, Ye- important to note that only a few months men’s Foreign Minister Abubakr Al-Qirbi ago, it would have been inconceivable that was dispatched to the Gulf Cooperation on Feb . 25, 2012, a new president would Council (GCC), to hint that Saleh would be sworn in after 33 years, seven months sign an initiative outlining a roadmap and four days of oppression . Equally re- to peaceful resolution, including power markable, on Feb . 27, the first presidential transfer, conditional upon immunity from ceremony in Yemen’s history was held, at- prosecution . The GCC acted accordingly tended by the new leader and the former but, despite four promises to endorse the president, whose presence, strategically initiative, he reneged on his own proposal . orchestrated by loyalists, was fiercely un- The document remained unsigned and Ye- appreciated by the prime minister, opposi- men deteriorated . ad tion parties and youth . W On May 23, AQAP (Al-Qaeda in the As the Operational Mechanism stipu- arry arry

Arabian Peninsula) members supporting H lates, President Hadi and the new coali- Sharia law occupied the southern coastal Yemeni activist Tawakkul Karman’s non-vio- tion government will create a military town of Zinjibar, killing several people . lent protest leads her to a Nobel Peace Prize. committee to restore legitimate security Additional fighting occurred between the She dedicated it to the people of Yemen. forces . They will also form a dialogue regime and defectors from military troops . committee, comprised of members of Conflict broke out between Republican the bloodshed and calling for an immedi- political parties, civil society, southern Guard Troops, under Saleh’s son, and the ate adoption of the GCC Initiative to end movements, tribal members, Al Houthi Hashid tribe led by Sadiq Al-Ahmar, as the crisis . Amid the chaos, the winners of and youth, among others . Based on their military forces massacred peaceful dem- the Nobel Peace Prize were announced on discussions, a constitutional committee onstrators elsewhere . Oct . 7 . Among them was Yemeni female will draft a new constitution and prepare The conflict motivated an assassination activist Tawakkul Karman, whose non- the country for authentic democratic par- attempt at the presidential palace June 3 . violent protest garnered her international liamentary and presidential elections in Several of Saleh’s entourage were killed acclaim . In accepting this honour, she 2013 and 2014 . and the president himself, despite denials, dedicated it to the people of Yemen . Yemen’s problems are largely systemic, sustained serious wounds including a col- Following an absurd number of prom- emanating from a leader who played the lapsed lung and burns to his entire body . ises and subsequent refusals, Saleh finally rifts within the country as a political chess The following day, he flew to Saudi Arabia signed the GCC Initiative Nov . 23 . Much game . However, though Saleh may be for emergency treatment . Vice President credit is due to the herculean persistence gone, his ghost remains through the con- Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi became act- and patience of Jamal Benomar, UN envoy tinued presence of military control by his ing president by default . On July 7, the to Yemen, and Secretary General Al Ziani family and former allies such as General anniversary of the Black Day of Southern of the GCC, in implementing the initiative Ali Mosen al Ahmar and the backward Defeat in the 1994 Civil War, a frail and and putting the Operational Mechanism tribal contingent still loyal to the late Ab- bandaged Saleh gave a confrontational in place . Accordingly, on Dec . 7, a coalition dulla al Ahmar . It is essential that these speech from Saudi Arabia, vowing re- of current and opposition parties, known individuals relinquish their power im- venge and threatening to “confront chal- as the National Reconciliation Govern- mediately or they will find themselves the lenge with challenge ”. ment, was established and interim elec- new target of the revolution . They must By mid-August, a National Transition tions were confirmed for February 2012 . step aside in order to show the people that Council was declared, consisting of 143 January 2012 signified the end of unre- they are part of the cure rather than symp- opposition members . However, roughly strained revolution and the beginning of toms of the disease . 20 from the south withdrew, citing unfair inner transformation — the objective was Yemen is a work in progress, but its vic- representation and lack of emphasis on to establish an environment of security, tory over oppression has inspired a spirit southern issues . The massacres continued unity and reform prior to multi-party of optimism not felt for more than three in September by the Republican Guard, elections in 2014 . This process began Feb . decades . While much remains to be done, led by Saleh’s son and by the central forces 21 with the people formally electing to re- genuine hope springs that on the horizon, of his nephew, Yahya . move Saleh and appoint acting vice-pres- a brilliant new sunrise is about to shine Abruptly, on Sept . 23, Saleh returned to ident Hadi as transitional president for over Yemen . Yemen . The violence escalated and UN Se- two years . Saleh’s agreement to relinquish curity Council Resolution 2014 was issued power was attained upon the condition of Khaled Bahah is Yemen’s ambassador to in October, expressing grave concern over his full immunity from prosecution . While Canada .

58 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN IRAN ANSWERS BACK|Di spatches Hard talk: a conversation with Iran ‘In such a dire situation,’ says Chargé d’Affaires Kambiz Sheikh-Hassani, ‘cool heads should prevail’

By Donna Jacobs

Iran has provoked widespread international concern over its controversial pursuit of nuclear power and its suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons. It is also criticized for its unjust imprisonment and execution of its citizens, including children, as well as for its suppression of political dissidents and opposition candidates. Most recently, it faces censure for supporting Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad against the call for international action to stop his deadly suppression of protesters. In this wide-ranging interview, Iranian Charge d’Affaires Kambiz Sheikh-Hassani tells Diplomat publisher Donna Jacobs why the West is wrong about Iran, and why the West should get out of the Middle East and mind its own business.

Diplomat Magazine: The Canadian government’s “Controlled Engagement Policy” has limited discussions with the Embassy of Iran to four topics since May 2005: (1) the human rights situation in Iran; (2) Iran’s nuclear program and its lack of respect for its non-proliferation obs c obligations; (3) the case of Mrs . Zahra Ka- zemi, who was killed in an Iranian prison onna Ja by government officials in 2003; and (4) D Iran’s role in the region . Kambiz Sheikh-Hassani Please comment on the status of each of these topics and indicate what you would I think we are in a very volatile, so- tion of the global community was not say to open a dialogue with the Canadian phisticated and complicated transitional party to drafting it, including Muslims government on them . period in global history . In such a dire and countries such as China and India . situation, cool heads should prevail . We We believe that if you want to have a true Kambiz Sheikh-Hassani: I have been a pro- are obliged to use our intellectual faculties universal human rights charter, you have dialogue diplomat and I came here to more than our muscles . As an optimistic to include the views, cultures, beliefs and kick-start a meaningful, result-oriented diplomat, I am working for that . I haven’t the way of life of all people . dialogue . I have been here for a year, and been able to influence your government’s I keep working [toward] that objective . foreign policy much so far . But I remain DM: You did you sign this declaration, I cross my fingers for success because I optimistic and I work as hard as I can to though, as it is? find such an approach a win-win for both achieve [progress] in the four areas that K S-H: Well, it was signed [and] we tried Iran and Canada . At the same time, gov- you mention . to respect the elements which do not ernments form their own policies and, as interfere with our way of life and our diplomats, we cannot interfere with the DM: The Canadian government will dis- beliefs . But some elements of the decla- policies . cuss human rights with representatives of ration do interfere . If we want a global As I have said before, Canada used the Iranian embassy . What will you say to view [on human rights], we have to re- to be seen as a part of the solution inter- them on this issue? consider and to take the views of other nationally — an honest broker, a lateral K S-H: Human rights is a serious issue for countries into consideration . This is an player — [and has now] taken a different us . We attach a lot of importance to the urgent need and I think many countries approach . I read in articles in your media issue but we emphasize we are people will endorse it . that even your academics and your [intel- of different cultures . When the Declara- lectuals], who are active in foreign-policy tion of Human Rights was adopted in the DM: Speaking in specifics, what does the issues, also long for the old Canada . United Nations [in 1948], a large propor- West want from Iran in terms of human

diplomat and international canada 59 Di spatches|IRAN ANSWERS BACK

rights? The West wants you not to im- her family and remind [people] that the which is the right of the Iranian people . prison opposition leaders . It wants open late Zahra Kazemi travelled to Iran as an We think that the major problem of our elections and candidacies . It wants you to Iranian on her Iranian travel documents . part of the world is foreign intervention, move to democracy . According to Iranian civil law, adopted the presence of foreign troops and foreign K S-H: We are doing that . We have estab- more than 50 years ago, Iran does not countries . We believe that the countries lished a system of government during recognize dual citizenship . of the region are well capable of ensur- the last 33 years . It is perfecting itself . But The Iranian government thinks that its ing their own security and the stability of these processes take time . We have to be citizens should be dealt according with their own region . But the last 400 years tell courageous and patient . We also need Iranian law . We cannot be accountable to us that foreign intervention and foreign courage and patience from the outside foreign governments . meddling in our affairs has worsened the world . Your system took many centuries situation . to perfect so give us time . [Our system] DM: So you can never leave Iran and will work — definitely — but as a system not remain an Iranian citizen, no matter DM: If Russia (the former USSR) had not compatible with our way of life . where you are in the world? invaded Afghanistan, the 9/11 al-Qaeda We cannot copy liberal democracies . K S-H: Unless you renounce your citizen- attack would not have happened . Rus- We are different people . Let us have our ship — and I haven’t seen anyone re- sia’s invasion led to the creation and own system, our own values and our own nouncing it . Any Iranians who want to go arming of the Taliban . The Taliban turned culture and adapt the laws and regula- back to Iran, we give them passports and on the West, morphed into an interna- tions according to our own way of life . they go back as Iranians . tional terrorist organization, al-Qaeda . Then we will have no problem with hu- You say that Afghanistan can take care of man rights, no problem with democracy . DM: There is ample evidence that Zahra itself . Yet as soon as the West pulls out its Kazemi died from wounds inflicted on troops, al-Qaeda and/or the Taliban will DM: You may be moving towards a more her by government agents while she was be there [to try and take over] again . democratic system . It seems impercep- in prison custody . When you offer condo- K S-H: It will not happen overnight . We tible to us . If people are jailed as dissi- lences, do you also offer an apology? opposed Soviet Union’s invasion of dents — among them, students asking for K S-H: I extend my condolences . I can add Afghanistan because we thought it was democracy — how can this democracy that this issue was and is very important wrong . We also oppose the U S. . invasion get kick-started? for the Iranian government . That is why of Afghanistan because we also think it is K S-H: Our democracy kick-started 33 the case is not closed yet . If you remem- wrong . Iranians have been living in that years ago because we moved from a royal ber, the president at the time appointed part of the world for many centuries . We dictatorship to a republican system which a five-member council consisting of dif- think we understand the dynamics of the every four years chooses its president, ferent ministers to investigate the issue . region better . 290 members of parliament, assembly Several lawyers represented the late The Americans created the Taliban to of experts, members of city council and Zahra Kazemi . fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan . other councils that run the affairs of the As the representative of Iran in Canada, You created a monster and then, when country . We [had] another parliamentary I am responsible for the safety, rights and the Soviets left Afghanistan, you also left . election [March 2] . well-being of all Iranians . If the late Zahra The monster came back to you after they Now we have our laws, and within the Kazemi’s family asks me for help, I will killed our diplomats . You know nine Ira- boundary of those laws people can act and definitely, with my best ability, respond nian diplomats were killed in Afghanistan interact, which is going on . But if the laws to that . before 9/11 . We are the victims of Taliban of the country are violated, then people ourselves . And that is why we helped the should be dealt with according to the law . DM: Have they asked you? Americans to defeat the Taliban . K S-H: Not yet . DM: Violations such as large protest gath- DM: And the Taliban has reportedly taken erings? DM: Her family wants her body returned up residence in your country under your K S-H: Gatherings are allowed if you get to Canada . protection? permission in advance . If you don’t get K S-H: We do not discuss details here K S-H: We categorically deny that . Now permission in advance, you cannot have but if the family asks me for help, as the the Americans are negotiating with Tali- a gathering . For instance, [Canada had envoy from Iran, I see my duty to do my ban . We think this is insane . The Taliban violent incidents] in the G20 [in Toronto] utmost to help them . And I will . are the same elements who caused this and the G8 in Vancouver . What did your chaos . How can you negotiate with the police do? When people transgress the DM: Iran’s role in the Middle East is the people who killed your nationals in the boundaries of law, they should be ar- other matter the government will to talk United States? We think these policies are rested and they should be accountable to to you about . I think they mean your in- wrong . the law . fluence, your support for Hezbollah and your brinksmanship with Syria . DM: You categorically deny working with DM: What about the case of Zahra Ka- K S-H: Iran is a legitimate regional power Taliban? zemi? in the Middle East . It has its own legiti- K S-H: Of course . They were an enemy . K S-H: I am very disappointed for this mate interests . What we are doing, in a loss of life . And since this is the first time very volatile region, is to make sure that DM: But now insurgents in Iraq and I am speaking to your media about this our interests are preserved . At the same Afghanistan have weapons from your issue, I want to extend my condolences to time, we try to develop our own country, country .

60 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN IRAN ANSWERS BACK|Di spatches

will definitely be more participatory and more democratic . No . 3, they will be more Islamic . Those dictators backed by the West imposed secular dictatorship on Muslims . Now the dictator-imposed secularism is gone, these people will return to their Islamic principles .

DM: Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, asked Bashar al-Assad to stop killing his people and to call free elections . Why, if this is part of the Islamic Awaken- ing, are you not putting more pressure on your close ally? K S-H: We support change when the change is home-grown . We do not believe in foreign meddling . If the change is home-grown in Syria, our officials have asked that the Syrian president pay attention to the wishes of his own people . reamstime D DM: Post-election turmoil in Tehran in 2009. Are you content to let a civil war continue, with people wounded and gunned down in the streets without UN K S-H: Iran sells weapons to 40 countries . The United States fully backed Hosni intervention? Direct foreign intervention [On the other hand], Saudi Arabia can Mubarak for many decades while he was is not driving these demonstrations . buy $60 billion of American weaponry . running a very repressive regime . K S-H: But hooligans and anti-government But we do not give weapons to the The United States and United Kingdom forces are being equipped with weapons . Taliban . Maybe they secure it from else- and many Western countries worked They are fighting their own government . where . You never empower your enemy . closely with Libya and Muammar Gad- Why should a legitimate government be hafi . He was a brutal dictator . fought by elements who are supported, DM: Please describe Iran’s view of the We believe that the time for such be- equipped and armed by outside coun- Arab Spring, including your country’s haviour is over . Now the people of the tries? This will worsen the situation . This statement of regret and concern over the region want to take their destiny in their will not lead to democracy . We hope for a way Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is own hands . Iran is their example . We peaceful outcome . But things are not very killing his people . started 33 years ago . We have inspired promising at the moment . K S-H: First of all, what you call Arab people of our region and now they are Spring, we call Islamic Awakening . We be- revolting against dictators . DM: The people’s will has been awakened lieve the lifetime dictatorial governments in Syria . The demonstrations are a pro- are over . They cannot continue any more . DM: Do you think you inspired them? Or test in the same sense as the 2009 protest We believe that this situation was cre- do you think it was the Tunisian univer- in Iran over what the people felt was a ated by the help of the United States . I sity graduate, Mohamed Bouazizi, who rigged presidential vote — “Where is my can quote Condoleezza Rice, secretary of became a fruit peddler to support his fam- vote?” state, on June 20, 2005 . She was speaking ily and who burnt himself in desperation? K S-H: No [the Iranian demonstrations] at the American University in Cairo: “For K S-H: He was the ignition . But Iran defi- were not an uprising . I disagree with you . 60 years, my country, the United States, nitely has inspired changes in the Middle People were asking about the result of the pursued stability at the expense of de- East and in North Africa . I can tell you election . And there are lawful ways for mocracy here in the Middle East and we that the people of the region want three asking — which is the recount of some achieved neither ”. main things . percentage of the votes . This was carried We object to American hypocrisy be- No 1,. they want to be independent . out . If you ask for something outside the cause the U S. . worked with those dicta- Why? For many decades they have been boundaries of law, it is not acceptable . tors who brutalized their own people, belittled and subordinated to big powers including my country . In 1953, the United through dictators who were supported DM: Many Iranians do not feel repre- States and the United Kingdom designed by Western countries . Now that they have sented by your system in which the and carried out a coup d’état in Iran, top- their destiny in their hands, they want to mullahs decide who may run for office . pling an elected Iranian government and be more independent . They will be more Iranians are forbidden or intimidated or bringing back the dictator who had fled independent . kidnapped or imprisoned if they run as the country, inflicting 16 years of very No . 2, they will be more democratic opposition leaders . The people cannot re- brutal repression on Iranian people while because, when the dictator is gone, people volt because they are forbidden to meet . the Shah of Iran was the close ally of the want to participate and to form their own How can you be inspiring other Arab United States . type of governance . So the new system Springs when you squashed your own?

diplomat and international canada 61 Di spatches|IRAN ANSWERS BACK

K S-H: We do not squash anyone . We have a system of government . This system has its own institutions . In these institutions, elections are run according to the law . Ev- ery country has its own laws . In Canada, if you are not a member of a party, you cannot run for Parliament .

DM: This is specious reasoning . K S-H: What I am saying is that there are different systems . The Iranian system is not a political-party, Westminster system . But it is a representative system . Why should our criteria be exactly like yours? You cannot assimilate . People have their own systems . Your system is different from the U .S . and France . France is different from the UK . If you want to make a comparison, participation of Iranians [in elections] is far higher than in Canada . k In the last presidential election in Iran, 40 c to S million people voted . And the president i got 63 percent of the votes . Iranian supporters of defeated reformist presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi demonstrate in June 2009 in Tehran. Iranians protested against what they believed was a rigged DM: That vote was much disputed . vote that put President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad back in power. K S-H: No, it was not disputed .

DM: Perhaps not by you . That is why Russia is opposing the reached the end of its work and will soon K S-H: Not by anybody who is worth Western approach to Syria — arguing that disappear off the geographical scene ”. listening to — because the elections in what you are imposing will worsen the Why did Iran’s presidential website Iran are run according to Iranian law . It situation . make these statements? No . 1: “The Zion- is not good that you like the democracy ist regime of Israel faces a dead end and that delivers the result that you like . The DM: Mr . al-Assad has said he is not going will under God’s grace be wiped off the West has a very bleak history for this . In to step down, any more than Muammar map ”. No . 2: “The Zionist regime that is Algeria, there was a free election . The Gadhafi, who said he was going to fight a usurper and illegitimate regime and a Salvation Front won . It was crushed but to the end . At what point do you say this cancerous tumour should be wiped off the nobody objected . In Gaza, there was a is enough? map ”. free election . Hamas won but the West K S-H: You cannot compare President K S-H: I don’t know where you found didn’t like the result so they objected and Assad with Colonel Gadhafi . Definitely those [quotations] . But many people tried to impose sanctions on the elected not . dispute the translation of these phrases, government of Gaza . We have advised President Assad to including scholars in the United States . [Can you] tell me that 100 percent of pay attention, to accommodate the lawful Iran’s official position on this issue, Canadians agree with their prime minis- wishes of his people . If you take up arms, ter now? No . He has the support of only it is not a lawful wish . It is an insurgency 40 percent of eligible voters . This is the which is unacceptable . I would like to see framework in which elections are run . So the Syrian government and opposition I adamantly disagree with you if you say work out the solution themselves . I think the Iranian government is not representa- they are capable of doing that . tive or is not democratic . This is why I say it needs patience . The case of Libya, do you think it is resolved? DM: It is the method [we are talking The supporters of Muammar Gadhafi about] . Leaders in democratic countries have claimed a city . The chaos goes on . are selected by the people and make their We should help stability and home-grown way through the electoral process . Your solutions . IAEA leaders are selected by mullahs — they have to be approved . DM: Does Iran recognize Israel’s legiti-

K S-H: ean Calma/ In the United States primary mate right to nationhood? If so, why did D system, only very few people elect the Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadine- Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s permanent represen- nominee . Some of the people are selected jad, say in June 2008: “You should know tative to the IAEA, and Mohamed ElBaradei by 100 votes . that the criminal and terrorist Zionist (left), then IAEA director general, speak to We respect your democracy; we also regime, which has 60 years of plunder- the press in Vienna in 2003. Mr. Salehi is cur- expect you to respect our democracy . ing, aggression and crimes in its file, has rently foreign minister of Iran.

62 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN IRAN ANSWERS BACK|Di spatches

man beings . And the Israelis have at least 200 [nuclear bombs] in [their] arsenal . Iran has peaceful nuclear energy . Who is threatening whom?

DM: Israel wants to take out your nuclear weapons because they are afraid you will use them on Israel . K S-H: We have no nuclear weapons . Why are you repeating that? We have no nuclear weapons . Any idiot knows that . We have a peaceful nuclear program . It is an inalienable right of all members of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty] . The IAEA in more than 20 of its reports has declared that there has been no diversion in Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities . Please for once believe us . We say nuclear weapons have no place in our military doctrine because we saw the So- avy photo photo avy N .

S viet Union collapse while it had thousands . U of nuclear weapons . We can see Israel is The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson crosses the Strait of Hormuz in February. not feeling safe while it has hundreds of nuclear weapons . which is a very democratic solution, is be easy to wipe out it out militarily — We believe that power is not nuclear that in a referendum, by the participation which is why Israelis say Iran poses an weapons . If you study defence budgets of of all people of Palestine, including the existential threat . Israel is not saying it the world, Iran has one of the least mili- Muslims, the Jews and others, they de- wants to wipe Iran off the map . It is say- tary spending . Because we believe if your cide the system of government they wish ing, “Stop the development of nuclear people support you, then that is the real to have . Iran will fully respect that . weapons because they could be used to strength . And the majority of our people Of course, we disagree with more wipe Israel off the map ”. support us . Why do people want to deny than six decades of occupation, invasion, K S-H: I don’t know if you have studied Iran access to science and technology? imprisonment of the Palestinians in their the history of Palestine and what hap- own land, a situation that even [President] pened to Palestine when it was parti- DM: They suspect military application . Jimmy Carter of America has called “a tioned . [Despite] UN resolutions, a lot of K S-H: I suspect every movement of the prison camp ”. We see this as one of the territory has been occupied by the force United States because what it has done to gravest injustices to humanity in contem- of arms by Israelis since 1967 . my people, and the people of this region, porary history . We have seen systematic occupation is sheer brutality . [As for] rhetoric, we have been threat- by Israel, systematic invasion by Israel of ened with military action on a daily basis Palestine, of Lebanon . We have seen very DM: What will Iran’s response be to a [with] contingency plans for attacking brutal wars and crimes against innocent confrontation with the U S. . Sixth Fleet Iran . Why does nobody object to this? We people . These are facts . Iran has never if Iran makes good on its threat to block don’t understand this . If threatening oth- been party to any fighting between Israel the Strait of Hormuz, or if Iran’s nuclear ers is bad, why — when Iran is threatened, and its neighbours . facilities are bombed by one or more a noble, civilized, cultured people — no- countries? In January, U S. . Secretary of body objects? DM: Iran is using threatening words — no Defence Leon Panetta speculated that matter which way you look at them . within the next three months, your coun- DM: Has Israel ever said to Iran what Iran K S-H: I call them rhetoric . We never had try will be physically attacked . has said to Israel — that, no matter which plans to attack anybody while they say at K S-H: First of all, I wish that cool heads way you parse the words: “We will drive the highest level they have plans to attack will prevail . [We] do not need any adven- you into the sea . We will wipe out your Iran . U S. . President [Obama] said this . turism by the United States or anybody country . You don’t deserve to exist ”. Israelis are saying this . Nobody objects . else . Iran is doing whatever is permissi- K S-H: The Israeli deputy prime minister ble according to the rights of NPT — the [Moshe Ya’alon] has said that “we can DM: Because Iran is threatening the exis- Non-Profileration Treaty . Iran’s nuclear attack all Iranian facilities and all Iranian tence of Israel . program is peaceful . I don’t see any rea- facilities are penetrable ”. And they say, K S-H: It is not Iran . I told you Iran’s of- son whatsoever for any country to even “We have planned to carry out an attack ficial position . But the market for rheto- think about attacking Iran . against Iran ”. ric is very hot . Rhetoric is [found] on But if they want to repeat their mistakes both sides . We have been threatened by of the past, Iranian people have proved DM: Israel is surrounded by forces that military attack more than 300 times . It that they are capable of defending them- are antagonistic to it, wish it gone, have is coming on a daily basis now . Why do selves . Iranian officials have said that we attacked it . Given Israel’s size, it would you not worry about Iranians? We are hu- have no plans for blocking the Strait of

diplomat and international canada 63 Di spatches|IRAN ANSWERS BACK reamstime D Graffiti at the former U.S. embassy in Tehran where 52 Americans were taken hostage for 444 days during the Iran hostage crisis, from No- vember 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981. The Iranians released the hostages on Jan. 20, 1981, the day Ronald Reagan took office.

Hormuz . But if you want to attack Iran, invasive country but it is an asymetrically As far as I know, Hezbollah is a part of Iran has every right to defend itself . invasive country through Hezbollah and reality in Lebanon . They have members some of its other — as we would call it — of parliament, they are a political force DM: Why do Prime Minister Stephen terrorist activities . and they have ministers in the cabinet . At Harper and many people in the West con- K S-H: You would call it terrorist but we the same time, they have the courage to sider Iran the most dangerous country in would not . The people who would fight defend their own country which was oc- the world? for the independence of their country and cupied by Israel until some years ago . I do K S-H: They are wrong . for their land, we do not call them terror- not accept and agree with what you say ists . The people who are fighting occupa- about Hezbollah . DM: All of them are wrong? tion, we do not call them terrorists . And K S-H: Yes, because in the last 250 years, we think we should revise the definition DM: The November IAEA report talks Iran has never invaded or threatened its of terrorism . States who kill systemati- about the likelihood of Iran developing neighbours . We have been invaded five cally the citizens of other countries, and various weapons . It gives nuclear weap- times in that period . Twice by Russia, are proud of their behaviour, they are ter- ons a “likely” grade, based on different which attacked Iran and annexed a large rorists in our view . criteria . The IAEA report cites Electro- part of the country (which today are in- magnetic Pulse (EMP) weaponry as the dependent republics) . Then twice in the DM: Hezbollah is a well-organized mili- next “most likely ”. course of World War I and World War II, tary, paramilitary and social organization Apparently, using advanced laser tech- England and Russia jointly invaded my around the world . It is well-established in nology, you were able to guide to earth, country when we had announced offi- the Caribbean and Latin America and is without damaging it, the U S. . drone . EMP cially that we were neutral . actively raising money in Canada and the weaponry could knock out the West’s They occupied the country by force of United States . It has been documented communications systems, possibly before arms for five years each time, bringing that Hezbollah can be blamed for terror- or during an attack, giving Iran almost a about famine, killing millions of Iranian ist acts in hijacking, attacks and murder first-strike advantage . people . Then we come to very recent his- [on a U S. . airline, U S. . barracks, Israeli The IAEA consensus in Attachment 2: tory when Iraq invaded Iran . Iraq had the embassies and an Israeli cultural centre] . Analysis of Payload, re-published on page full support of the United States and many If Iran’s nuclear facilities are attacked, 66) is that Iran is probably working on mil- other countries . We have never attacked the West is concerned that Hezbollah will itary application of its nuclear program . anybody . We have always opposed inva- activate its cells and carry out attacks . K S-H: No, I disagree with that . If you sions . But when we are attacked, we are Please describe Hezbollah’s world-wide carefully read the IAEA report, it speaks capable of defending ourselves . presence and the acts for which it has about alleged studies in the past . claimed responsibility or proven to be DM: You did take Americans hostage [for responsible? DM: It also mentions studies and findings 444 days in 1979-1980] and memories are K S-H: I am not an expert on Hezbollah . from 2008 and onward . long on both sides . Iran may not be an What you say are your words . K S-H: It is based on foreign intelligence .

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The IAEA was in Iran this week [early China plus Germany] that we are open to February] . Iran’s facilities are under negotiations without any pre-conditions . IAEA surveillance 24 hours a day . So we think we have kept every avenue open . There [should be] no excuse or alibi DM: According to the IAEA, not every from anybody . facility is fully under surveillance . The [The IAEA report from that late Febru- IAEA referred to a 2010 Security Coun- ary visit said that Iran had stepped up cil resolution calling for Iran to provide uranium enrichment, blocked inspectors’ access to the IAEA without delay to all access to the Parchin military testing site sites, equipment, persons and documents near Tehran, and had not provided long- requested by the agency . It said that since sought answers about weapons-related August 2008, Iran “has not engaged with work ]. the agency in any substantive way on this matter .” DM: What negotiations are you referring K S-H: No . This is not what I understand to? The IAEA says you have not imple- from IAEA reports . Non-diversion of mented the Additional Protocol which [nuclear materials] has been confirmed . means a whole area of your program is Even in the latest report, which is very not under surveillance, an observation biased, these alleged studies [on which made in previous IAEA reports . conclusions are based] were provided K S-H: You have not studied the Addi- k to [former IAEA Director-General] Mo- c tional Protocol carefully . to S hamed ElBaradei many years ago but he i was very wise not to circulate it because Iran's controversial heavy water production DM: I read it . he concluded that the studies were not facility in final stages of construction in 2004, K S-H: First, Iran has not signed the Ad- documented enough . in Arak, south Tehran. ditional Protocol, as many other countries Iraq was invaded on a bunch of lies have not signed it . [The Additional Proto- — that the country had weapons of mass eight nuclear reactors for Iran, France, two col grants the IAEA an expanded right of destruction that they could mobilize in and Germany, two . The Germans started access to information and sites to check 45 minutes . So why believe U S. . intel- to build the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, on declared and possible undeclared ac- ligence now about the verified reports of which was 90 percent complete by the tivities .] the IAEA reports? [The IAEA] is definitely time of the Iranian revolution . After the To build confidence, we accepted the relying on those old intelligence reports . revolution, all this cooperation stopped . Additional Protocol without ratifying it, This is not acceptable . This is a double Another fact is that Iran, as a member to temporarily and voluntarily implement standard . of NPT, like all other members, has a full it for a short period of time . The IAEA re- right to enjoy peaceful nuclear technol- sponded to our good faith with a very bad DM: In one section of the IAEA report, an ogy, including enrichment . And 120 NAM response, which disappointed many Ira- Iranian scientist admitted that, in this one (Non-Aligned Movement) members sup- nians . Our Safeguard Agreements [aimed instance, [if the information on a nuclear port this right . at enabling detection clandestine nuclear payload option were true], it would con- Another fact is that Iranian people have weapons program] with the agency are stitute “a program for the development seen that they have been discriminated what we signed and we are honouring of a nuclear weapon ”. against in this regard and they cannot ac- that . [In another section, the report notes cept that . 2008 and 2009 studies in which Iran alleg- Another fact is that Iran needs to in- DM: What does Iran want from the IAEA? edly tested a nuclear device to determine crease its power production because we K S-H: Iran wants, as a member of NPT, to “subsequent nuclear explosive yield” have an increasing demand for electricity fully enjoy its rights, and definitely hon- whose application to anything “except power We. are working on wind energy, ours its obligations . a nuclear explosive is unclear to the solar energy, geothermal energy and also agency ”]. nuclear energy . DM: Why don’t you open everything K S-H: I think you should carefully read Another fact is that a lot of investment up to the IAEA completely so they can’t the IAEA report . We have the verified has been made in this industry and the ab- keep saying they haven’t been given ac- and substantiated parts, and [then] we solute majority of the Iranian people fully cess, they haven’t had answers to their have the “alleged studies,” as they have support it . Our approach is to cooperate requests for information? come to be known . with the IAEA according to our Safeguard K S-H: We have had 4,000 man-hours of Iran’s nuclear program was started by Agreements . We are doing that . inspection of Iranian facilities, which is the Shah of Iran in the 1960s and 1970s “We are also open to any negotiation unprecedented in the history of IAEA . If with the encouragement of the Stanford without any pre-conditions . Our foreign they are not satisfied, it is not our prob- Research Institute in the U S. . minister has said that we will respond to lem; it is their problem . The institute encouraged the King of the IAEA’s questions . The IAEA said that Iran by advising him to plan for 20,000 their February visit to Iran was a positive DM: You were able to build an entirely megawatts of nuclear energy “for the one and they would return on February underground facility near Qom, a facil- future need of your people ”. The Iranian 21 and 22 . We have also said to the 5+1 ity almost impervious to attack without program started . The U S. . was to build [United States, Britain, France, Russia, anybody knowing about it . IAEA said

diplomat and international canada 65 Di spatches|IRAN ANSWERS BACK GOV/2011/65 Attachment 2

Attachment 2: Analysis of Payload IAEA estimate of Iran's military payloads that, until they knew about it, Iran did not mention these facilities . HIGH BIOLOGICAL CHEMICAL E M P SATELLITE NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE K S-H: According to those Safeguard Agreements, any member state can in- Applicable Mass form the agency about nuclear facilities and Dimensions six months prior to feeding gas to it . Iran announced to IAEA many, many years Contains a HV before that . generator box We told them about Qom last year and they have installed the cameras, whereas Airburst <3000' we were not obliged by Safeguard Agree- ments to tell them, except six months be- Multiple fore feeding gas into our centrifuges . Detonators I want to add one point . Since 1974, Present Iran and Egypt have co-sponsored the

No Capability for Release Middle East nuclear free zone in the of Chamber from Capsule or Load from Chamber and United Nations General Assembly . And no Antenna(s) this resolution, since 1980 every year, Presence of 400m is adopted in the UN General Assem- Shaft in Test bly . We think that not only the Middle Sketch East, but also the whole world, should be free of nuclear weapons . And we are Total Package very surprised to see why NPT is not Taken as a Whole implemented in its disarmament leg . And definitely Iran is a party to any activity for disarmament . LIKELY POSSIBLE UNLIKELY IMPOSSIBLE DM: The November IAEA report includes an analysis of the payloads Iran could be This chart was published on the final page Contains a HV generator box: The high- planning for its Shehab 3 missile and the of the IAEA’s November 18, 2011 report on voltage generator is needed to detonate a agency’s assessment of Iran’s likelihood Iran’s nuclear program. In a comparison of nuclear implosion device for EMP or other six categories of possible weapons, it indi- nuclear weapon effects (blast, thermal of using these various weapons . K S-H: cates that a nuclear bomb is the most likely radiation and nuclear radiation). This is what the American intel- choice for Iran. ligence service is [putting out ]. IAEA Below is an explanation of the chart by Airburst less than 3,000 feet (0.9 kilometre): has re-circulated the intelligence they William S. Andrews, professor of chemi- To generate this explosion in air, rather than have received from the U S. . intelligence cal and nuclear engineering at the Royal on impact with the ground or an object, service . In 2007, 16 American intelligence Military College of Canada in Kingston. would require initiating a fuse and could be services confirmed that Iran had no mili- used for a variety of payloads. If detonation tary weapon program, and that the pro- At the top of the chart: Iran’s weapons is at too high an altitude, the effects are not gram was for nuclear energy . options range from biological, chemical, as localized. Strategic weapons would have and high explosive through nuclear. They higher heights of burst and larger payloads DM: also include two options that require expla- than more local tactical weapons. And then they rescinded that report nation: [the National Intelligence Estimate] . K S-H: Multiple detonators present: Sufficient But the IAEA says there is no di- 1) EMP (electromagnetic pulse) refers to an capacity to trigger an implosion since version . electromagnetic surge that can overload implosion is how criticality is achieved. The electrical/electronic circuits, rendering detonation of explosive “lenses” compresses DM: Is there anything you want to say in military and civilian electronic-dependent the fissile material to form a critical mass closing? equipment and systems inoperable, includ- capable of fission from a safer sub-critical K S-H: I want to request the people of the ing weapons delivery systems and civilian mass in a nuclear device. world, including Canadians, to be fair power grids. and to treat Iranians without discrimina- No capability for release of chamber from 2) Satellite refers to a missile launch of a capsule or load from chamber and no tion . Iranians are a civilized, noble people satellite for communications or observation antennas: The warhead would detonate on who have decided to live independently, purposes. the missile itself. This is in contrast to the to take their destiny in their own hands missile ejecting its payload which, in turn, and to ask the people to respect and al- On the left side of the chart: Criteria for would explode. low us to evolve and perfect our new predicting Iran’s choice of weapon system of governance which is participa- Presence of 400-metre shaft in test sketch: tive and representative and can be a great Applicable mass and dimensions: The size The shaft into the earth could be used for help for the Middle East and North of the warhead container and the missile warhead testing and would most likely be Africa . mass capable of carrying the payload, desig- needed for a nuclear warhead. nated by the appropriate column. Donna Jacobs is Diplomat’s publisher .

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Four famous fully-engaged French writers

george fetherling

riter/activists are coming back into fashion . It’s time to revisit Wtheir French ancestors . When I was about 15, I stumbled on a book no one else seemed to have checked out of the public library in decades: Emile Zola, Novelist and Reformer: An Account of his Life and Work . It was published in 1904, a couple of years after the French novelist’s tragic end . (He died at his writing desk after accidentally kicking open an unlighted gas jet, as depicted by Paul Muni in the last scene of The Life of Emile Zola, a once-famous Hollywood film ). The book I pulled from the stacks turned out to be straightforward to the point of being simple-minded but it had the advantage of having been written by someone who had known the subject personally: Edward Vizetelly, who like his father before him had been Zola’s English translator and publisher . Vizetelly once went to prison for publishing a translation of one of Zola’s novels, which were widely held in the late 19th Century to be as risqué as they were popular, particularly the one entitled Nana, which scandalized our great-grandmothers and titillated our great-grandfathers . In 1898, when Zola himself was sentenced to jail by a French court for his role in the Dreyfus Affair, he fled to England where Vizetelly helped Emile Zola in 1902 him hide . I admired Zola mostly for his role as a today, it’s perhaps not unreasonable to army and a Jew, who had been drummed writer-citizen who dived right in to issues look back on a few of the famous French out of the military on a phoney espionage of the day, most notably l’affaire Dreyfus . ones of the past . Not Jean-Paul Sartre, charge that was actually, as Zola and oth- At his best, he was a tough-minded and Simone de Beauvoir or Albert Camus, but ers proved, an anti-Semitic frame-up . This honest critic of French society, yet also a some others who show the whole range of incredibly intricate tale begins in 1894 person of great humanity and compas- what it meant to be engagé as a writer . when French army intelligence intercepted sion . He was, as the French say, an engagé After putting up with years of accusa- a memo about military secrets sent to the writer: one whose desire to change politi- tions and public abuse, Zola was hon- German military attaché in Paris by an cal or social conditions is a big part of his oured with a state funeral . To understand unnamed French officer . One of the first in writing, and vice versa . As we are begin- this posthumous honour one has to recall a series of handwriting experts, who was ning to see another wave of such people Alfred Dreyfus, a captain in the French also a vicious anti-Semite, concluded that

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the author was Dreyfus, who thus found in France, for the two countries, rather like himself in a cell awaiting court martial . Canada and the U S. ,. have a long history Bolstered by secret files given them by of taking in each other’s exiles . the war minister, the judges condemned Wilde was a friend of André Gide, the him to Devil’s Island, the dreaded penal French novelist and littérateur who be- colony camp in French Guiana on the came sufficiently old and respectable to northeastern coast of South America . receive the Nobel Prize . I, for one, had not Dreyfus’s family lobbied for another in- thought much about this in years until I vestigation, and new evidence was found came upon a mildly startling sentence in that seemed to point to a French officer Jason Epstein’s memoir and polemic, Book named Esterhazy who was later tried and Business: Publishing Past Present and Future . acquitted . But that was countered by still The sentence comes where Mr . Epstein other documents (forged, as it happened) is paying tribute to Bennett Cerf, Horace that swung suspicion back to Dreyfus . The Liveright and other New York publishing first pamphlet in defence of the prisoner pioneers of the 1920s who “introduced the was by a young Jewish intellectual in 1896, literature of modernism to American read- by which time the scandal had animated ers by risking their fortunes and their des- the newspapers, consumed the army and tiny on Faulkner and Joyce, Proust, Gide, imperilled the Third Republic . As the Lawrence, Stein, Stevens, and Pound …”. whole ugly business spun out of control, Was there really a time when Gide (1869- it produced a mysterious woman in a veil, 1951) seemed so dangerously avant-garde a duel, numerous ruined careers (and the a writer as to be a big gamble? Of course Alfred Dreyfus start of others), and at least one suicide . there was . But he dropped off the roster Zola had been a famous public figure long ago, and it is interesting to speculate for years because of his 20-volume ro- why . man fleuve published under the general For one thing, he was the oldest of the title Les Rougon-Macquart, one of the great lot . Even Proust was younger . Yet Gide milestones of naturalism . He was busy acquired a large international audience with other causes and pursuits . But when rather late in his life and was 78 when he did jump into the Dreyfus case, in No- he got the Nobel Prize, which left him vember 1897, his articles in Le Figaro and frozen in time as an ancient and impos- elsewhere galvanized the public . The turn- sibly distinguished figure . For the English- ing point was an article (later a separate language audience, there is also the matter pamphlet), “J’accuse,” published in 1898 . of translations . Although new biographies Within weeks, three handwriting experts come out every now and then — the most sued him for libel . In short order he was recent was Alan Sheridan’s André Gide, A found guilty and sentenced to a year in Life in the Present (1999) — the key works prison, though the verdict was overturned are translated comparatively seldom, as is on appeal . Whereupon he was tried on the true of most such authors . Relatively new far more serious charge of criminal libel . translations of his very short novel The Im- Once found guilty, Zola decided that a moralist come along now and then, but If It visit to Britain would be timely . Die, his autobiography, was last translated The author returned to France in 1899, into English in 1935 . two days after Dreyfus was shipped home Stylistically, If It Die is a book solidly in from South America for a new trial . Poor the Puritan tradition, reminding us that Dreyfus was found guilty again . This Gide was almost as famous a Protestant in time, however, he was sentenced to only Catholic France as his contemporary and 10 years . The French president, hoping to opposite number g K. . Chesterton was a turn dramatically . Madeleine left him in put an end to the whole business, soon Catholic in Protestant England . Traces of horror on discovering his homosexuality, pardoned him; later, the verdict was over- cleverness in If It Die are so few that they and he dealt with her leaving by tell- turned . Over the next few years, Dreyfus, stand out in bold relief (“Every Swiss car- ing the whole story in The Immoralist, in who lived until 1935, was reinstated, ries his glaciers inside him”) . At times the which he calls her Marceline (whereas in promoted, compensated and awarded book reads like one of those lesser novels the autobiography she is Emmanuélle) . the Légion d’honneur on the same spot of Daniel Defoe from his late long-winded This first novel, which he paid to have where he had had his epaulets torn off in period . The narrative ends in the 1890s published in an edition of 300 copies, is disgrace . Yet in the same period there was with Gide’s Algerian exile, his relationship now recognized as a little masterwork of an attempt to assassinate him, as simply with Oscar Wilde and his determination straight autobiographical fiction, though exposing the current of anti-Semitism to marry his cousin, Madeleine Rondeaux, it was not considered a success at the time . in French life had, of course, done noth- who “was the only light left me by which It led him to intense productivity as a ing to eliminate it . It is also interesting to to guide my life ”. novelist and as the founder and editor of remember that Zola went to England at That seems a curious place to stop, France’s most influential literary journal, about the same time Oscar Wilde relocated because his existence was just about to La Nouvelle Revue Française . This, his most

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energized period, interrupted only by the involving jurors from the community . First World War, ended in 1924 when his Gide served on juries so often that he novel Corydon created a scandal with its acquired stature within the system, as homosexual content, causing him to liqui- when his fellow jurors instantly chose him date his property and go to the Congo . No to be their foreman . “As the only intellec- doubt somebody somewhere has written a tuel, more or less, I feared hostility, despite comparative study of the Congo as a place the great effort I made to prevent it . I was of refuge and menace in Joseph Conrad, quite touched by this sign of esteem ”. Graham Greene and André Gide ). Whether in Paris or on the road, he col- In colonial Africa, Gide began thinking lected and carefully filed great numbers of seriously about left-wing politics, but by press clippings about individual crimes .

the time of his autobiography he had been They were, of course, research material for e to and denounced the Soviet Union, so his fiction . c ran that he was alienated from both the right Neither Zola nor Gide was in the least F and the left . His response was to withdraw like Jean Cocteau, who was born in 1889, from politics of any type . During the Sec- the same year as that other Parisian land- ond World War, he set what he believed mark, the Tour Eiffel, and who enjoyed was a good example for writers every- a good long run . Mordecai Richler wrote where by refusing to be a part of current of meeting him at a party in the 1950s,

events one way or another, living quietly for example . By then, to judge from his de ibliothèque nationale B in the South of France . published diaries from that decade, he Although his external life was often was tired and, no doubt, depressed . One Jean Cocteau in 1923 dramatic and indeed melodramatic, his entry reads: “Wednesday, I’ll leave France, personality was chilly and reserved . happy to be at sea . Our France of 1953 useful advice ”. His father was a failed Living on to a great age and reaching is like a little ‘literary’ café, filled with homme d’affaires who committed suicide, enormous eminence seemed to instil the smoke, pretentiousness, and stupidity ”. his mother a constant booster of her re- impression of someone who was hyper- Another entry from the same year states markable son’s career . When Cocteau was dignified and with good reason . Like Zola, that “America has nothing to look forward 18, for example, she arranged for one of he was a critic of the French legal system, to but ruin . Now it’s Brazil’s turn (and the most famous actors of the day to give though justice and not injustice is what Canada’s) ”. His heyday was in the 1920s, a public reading of her son’s poetry . That interested him . his own 30s, when he dazzled Europe was a ticket to success . From that point He especially liked to observe the me- with the spectacle of his genius, like — it forward, he met everybody who was im- chanics of the courts . Other busy people seems to us now — some weird Gallic portant . might scheme and fib to get out of jury combination of Orson Welles, Noel Cow- By the time of the Great War, in which duty, but Gide plotted and pleaded to be ard and Leonard Cohen . he drove a field ambulance, Cocteau was chosen . He once wrote a memoir of hap- He was bourgeois by origin and aristo- a friend of the poet and art critic Guil- penings he witnessed in the Assize Court, cratic by accent . He called his family “too laume Apollinaire, the dancer Vaslav Ni- which under the French system is the artistic for me to be able to rebel against jinsky, the composer Erik Satie and nearly top-level criminal court and the only one them, and not artistic enough to give me all the other leaders of the avant-garde . agnon G ernard B Malraux’s enthusiasm for flight, combined with his love of art and his weakness for pretend archaeology, sent him searching for the ruins of Marib, the ancient capital of Sheba, pictured here.

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his style and personality . envy or aesthetic differences, the question One would suppose from reading the brings us round to the matter of his stand- relevant memoirs and such that most ev- ing today . eryone who met Cocteau was attracted to Writing of Cocteau more than a decade him or, at the very least, liked him: I sense ago, a Paris correspondent of the Econo- that he was the Anti-Dreyfus . No less un- mist told readers that “few people have worldly a person than Jacques Maritain, a bad word to say about him any more ”. the great neo-Thomist philosopher and Yet still they write about him, just as they theologian, tried to help Cocteau kick his write of André Malraux, a differently en- opium habit (unsuccessfully, for Cocteau gagé figure who was also one of the great spent the rest of his life striking the gong) . mythomanes of the 20th Century — a fact The artist had a wonderfully open and tri- that was at the very heart of his life as a angular face that didn’t change shape, or novelist . even expression, as he aged . No wonder Years ago, Janet Flanner, the long-time so many of the great painters, such Dufy, Paris correspondent of the New Yorker, be- Modigliani, Picasso, Picabia and Rivera, gan a profile of Malraux by describing his painted portraits of him . talent as a brilliant rapid-fire talker (rather Cocteau was a magnet for photogra- than conversationalist) . She recounted one phers such as Man Ray, Irving Penn and of his prolonged outbursts of allusion and Cecil Beaton, though one of the most ideas on a street corner . Moments later, famous images is by Philippe Halsman . It still talking, he jumped into the back of André Malraux shows Cocteau, Shiva-like, with six hands: a taxi without stopping for breath . As one holding a book, another a pen, a third the cab pulled away, he was heard carry- smoking a cigarette, and so on . This is ing on, not pausing to acknowledge that comment on his range of talents, of course, his previous interlocutor had now been but it is also one of the many studies of his replaced by the driver: “In ancient Per- admirably beautiful fingers: long, slender sia…,” he was saying . and graceful . The critic Dominique Paini As a teenager, Malraux used his ap- has pointed out that unposed photo- parent brilliance to ingratiate himself to graphs of Cocteau are rare . Even a shot of established Parisian literary figures such him on his deathbed in 1963 looks artfully as André Breton and Max Jacob . Before arranged (and bears an eerie similarity he even reached his majority, he had set to Cocteau’s drawing of his backstage himself up as a publisher of expensive mother in her own last hours) . One of the limited editions, including erotica . By few candid photos shows him leaving the 1922, when he was 21, he was a regular inquiry where he was acquitted of hav- reviewer for the Nouvelle Revue Française ing collaborated with the Nazis simply — the famously influential NRF . He ex- because he refused to let them chase him isted, one of his numerous biographers out of Paris but stayed on throughout the had written, in “a fairy-tale world of occupation, working, keeping his elegant forced ingenuity ”. By then he had mar- head down, in somewhat the same man- ried an adventurous young woman with ner as Gide . money (which he soon lost) . In 1923, to In the delicate postwar period, Cocteau recoup his fortunes, he went to Cambo- showed himself a master of public rela- dia, where he experienced his first and tions, as distinct from mere publicity . He greatest scandal . had to . Near the end of his life he was Malraux had earned a little money made one of the Forty Immortals of the in the art galleries and auction rooms of Typically, he once wrote the libretto for a Académie française . Typically for Coc- Paris, as a commission-based go-between work for which Satie wrote the score and teau, he was photographed fencing with linking artists and collectors . Now he Picasso, another lifelong friend, designed the ceremonial sword that is part of the resolved to become his own supplier . He the sets . Although his main means of Prisoner of Zenda-like uniform worn by knew that a certain type of statuette of a expression were poetry and fiction — he members . That, no doubt, deflected some Buddhist apsara [a celestial nymph], for operated quite a literary factory — he of the accusations that he was taking his example, could bring the equivalent of also became a visual artist (though only eminence too seriously . US$12,000 in New York . So he and a col- infrequently a painter), a choreographer, Yet however likable he was personally, league, posing as serious archaeologists, a composer, a musician, an actor, a singer, Cocteau suffered a great deal of profes- went to the ruins of Banteay Srei, north- a designer, even a maker of masks — and sional criticism in his life . It is easy to see east of the temples at Angkor, and pried much else besides . In short, he felt he why: He could do too many things well . loose seven sandstone bas-reliefs . could add to his own catalogue of talents Dominique Paini remarked of him that French intelligence agencies were al- anything on which someone he admired “his insufficiencies seemed confirmed by ready on to Malraux (just as British and concentrated, and, what’s more, tried to the fact that he had a finger in every pie ”. American ones would be in subsequent hold all the elements together by force of Whether much criticism was inspired by years) . He was arrested, tried and sen-

70 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN BOOKS|DELIGHTS

Claude Lorrain’s painting of the Queen of Sheba disembarking. tenced to three years . Back in Europe, his He wanted to be at the centre of events the Queen of Sheba, who is mentioned wife orchestrated a campaign of getting as well as ideas and, moreover, to erase in both the Bible and the Qur’an . Many leading intellectual figures to petition the distinction . In 1934, a Trotskyite now, believe that he hoped an important ar- for his release . Surprisingly, the effort he was in the Soviet Union (where Sergei chaeological discovery in that part of the was successful . A couple of years later, Eisenstein pondered making a feature film world would heal the wound of his failure Malraux returned to the colonies to start of La condition humaine) . Another never- in Cambodia . His plan was to take aerial a pro-independence newspaper called realized project was collaborating with photographs of the ruins he expected to be L’Indochine, which the French authorities Maxim Gorky on an encyclopedia . “Not a discernible as straight lines crosshatching closed down . Out of his temple-robbing battleship of an encyclopedia, like the En- a patch of Arabian desert . Such images experiences came his novel La voie royale cyclopaedia Britannica,” Malraux explained, would be valuable instruments of public- (1930) . “but a submarine of an encyclopedia ”. ity and profit . What happened next is that Malraux Instead, he went to Africa . French intel- That there once indeed was an impor- entered a period of mysterious activity in ligence picked up his scent again, sending tant city called Marib, about 140 miles [225 China, out of which came the other truly out warnings that he was in Djibouti and kilometres] from the Gulf of Aden on the important novel in his oeuvre, La condi- was, in some unspecified way, up to no trade route to India, seemed clear enough . tion humaine, usually known in English good . Its most notable feature was said to be a as Man’s Fate (1933) . When the American Malraux had become interested in huge dam that was thought to have been critic Edmund Wilson once pressed him aviation, for the first decade after Charles one of the great engineering projects of for details of his life, Malraux replied: Lindbergh’s solo crossing of the Atlantic its day, which was the 6th Century BCE “I went to Asia at 23, as leader of an ar- was a time when aviators were seen as (but whose collapse in the 6th Century CE chaeological project . Then I abandoned romantic adventurers; ones as different as wrought a terrible flood on the region) . archaeology, organized the Young Annam Albert Camus, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The existence of Sheba’s monarch was a movement, then became commissar in the and Amelia Earhart became public heroes . murkier question . Kuomintang in Indochina and eventually His enthusiasm for flight, combined with The region was called Sheba (the He- in Canton ”. None of this is quite accurate . his love of art and his weakness for pre- brew spelling of Saba — residents of But then, in fairness, he did also admit to tend archaeology, sent him searching for Sheba were called Sabeans) after a per- Mr . Wilson that “the role of objectivity in the ruins of Marib, the ancient capital of son of the same name who is variously my books is not placed in the foreground .” Sheba and the royal seat of its monarch, identified in the Bible as a descendant of

diplomat and international canada 71 DELIGHTS|BOOKS

Noah or Abraham . The Queen of Sheba, before, much less piloted a plane . leaders have a fool . It relaxes them… ”. called Bilqis by Muslims, is known almost The events in Spain are now usually In the first year after the war, Malraux entirely for her calling on Solomon after seen as a dress rehearsal for the Second was information minister in de Gaulle’s hearing of his wisdom . In Arabic lore, World War, which followed almost im- provisional government . When de Gaulle the two married and their son became mediately . Malraux, back in France, joined became president of the new Fifth Repub- Ethiopia’s first king, from whom all later the Résistance and served usefully and lic in 1958, he asked Malraux to take on ones descended . This is significant be- bravely, helping to harry and harass the the cultural affairs portfolio . To say that cause Ethiopia was near the forefront of Nazi occupiers, while also, in the words Malraux threw himself into the task is public consciousness in the mid 1930s, of one chronicler, acting like “an energetic wholly inadequate . He turned everything immediately before, during and after door-to-door salesman of himself ”. Near upside down, starting new museums, Mussolini invaded it with the intention the end of the war, he incurred a wound, reinventing old ones, undertaking a of establishing an Italian empire . In any which he listed in the official record as national inventory of art works, cutting event, Malraux photographed the ruins three wounds, and was taken prisoner by down on the number of hideous public of something, in more or less the place the Germans, only to be freed when the statues, sending the Mona Lisa on a visit where Marib should once have been, but Allies swept in . to the New World and saying, “It seems experts dismissed his claims out of hand . But the most significant event that to me vital that culture should cease to His capers were much more successful in befell him during the war was meeting be the privilege of people who are lucky wartime . Charles de Gaulle . The dashing dark- enough to live in Paris or to be rich ”. He When Francisco Franco led the Spanish haired novelist and the leader of the Free was a special favourite of Jacqueline Ken- army in revolt against the elected govern- French forces took to each other . What de nedy, which made him a public figure in ment in Madrid, igniting what was soon Gaulle liked in Malraux is less important the U S. . During this period, he also turned known as the Spanish Civil War, Malraux than what Malraux admired in de Gaulle . his attention to a series of lavish art books, was among the many thousands of anti- As one critic phrased it, “The novelist sees, of which Museum without Walls is the best Fascists around the world, ranging from standing and sitting amiably before him, known — books Chirac says are without mildly liberal democrats to dedicated behind his little mustache, an unquestion- “scientific rigour” but show nonetheless communists, who rushed to the anti- able Great Man of history and legend ”. that “nobody spoke better than he about Franco cause . His role was to organize For indeed anyone who wishes to be con- fetishes” — that is, about primitive carv- the purchase of warplanes and recruit sidered a Great Man himself must first of ings . both volunteer and mercenary pilots to all believe in this simplistic concept . But In brief, Malraux went on being his fly them under his command . This despite then, as former French President Jacques highly charged, brilliant and charismatic the fact that he had never fired a weapon Chirac, once said, “In every civilization, self . He was old now, and addicted to amphetamines and opiates . And there were other flaws . When visitors tried to secure appointments to see Malraux, they would sometimes be told that the minister was indisposed with a recurrence of his old malaria . The phrase was code for his being drunk as a monkey . Through it all he remained the wonderful and unstop- pable talker, the presenter of a lifelong monologue that, as François Mauriac, speaking with the authority of a Nobel laureate, said, “puts too much trust in our stupidity ”. In 1967, Malraux published his memoirs, which he straightforwardly entitled Offering Exclusive Antimémoires, for he was at no pains to Rates For Diplomat- s disguise the fact that they mixed fiction and non-fiction . Such was his method as a novelist . Why should he act differently At Accu-Rate Corporation our For your personal when writing autobiography? Twenty team of highly experienced currency consultation please call: years after his demise, his ashes were traders and foreign banking partners Marie Boivin transferred to the Panthéon to rest with Managing Director allow us to negotiate currency prices the remains of the great French heroes lower than any other currency dealer 613-596-5505 ext. 101 [email protected] down through the centuries . The Econo- or commercial institution. mist used the occasion to pronounce that the long-serving bad boy of French culture had grown harmless since his death . Accu-Rate Corporation World Exchange Plaza Accu-Rate Corporation 2573 Carling Ave. 111 Albert St. George Fetherling’s most recent book is Foreign Exchange & International Payment Services Plans Deranged by Time (Wilfrid Laurier www.accu-rate.ca (613) 596-5505 (613) 238-8454 University Press) .

72 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN canadiana|DELIGHTS

Yonge Street: Governor Simcoe’s military road By Laura Neilson Bonikowsky hives Canada c r A ibrary and ibrary L Yonge Street looking North from Queen Street, Toronto, 1890.

I have ascertained by a Route hitherto and France in 1793, Simcoe realized that wrote with great excitement to Dundas . unknown but to some Indian Hunters, the capital Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) Simcoe’s strategic route did not follow that there is an easy Portage between and its Lake Erie trade route would be the natural contours of the land but was York and the Waters which fall into Lake vulnerable to attack should America sup- truly a military road, running arrow- Huron of not more than thirty miles in port its French allies . He transferred the straight from York to Holland Landing . extent.... and hope to compleat (sic) the capital to Toronto Bay, establishing York as Simcoe named the road Yonge Street, after Military Street or Road the ensuing the capital, and planned major roads, both Sir George Yonge, secretary of war in the Autumn.” for defence and for expanding develop- British Cabinet and a family friend . ~ Lieutenant-Governor John ment . He strengthened his proposal for Augustus Jones, a United Empire Loy- Graves Simcoe to Secretary of State the military route by pointing out its com- alist from New York State, was assigned Henry Dundas, October 19, 1793 mercial advantages as a trade route . to survey and clear the way . He and the Simcoe embarked on Sept . 25, 1793, Queen’s Rangers began at Holland Land- ohn Graves Simcoe, first lieutenant- with a group of soldiers and Aboriginal ing and worked their way through the governor of Upper Canada, proposed guides to explore north of Lake Ontario, dense forest south to York . The difficulty Jthe “military street” as a strategic following the Carrying Place Trail portage of clearing the road was partially solved route to help protect Upper Canada from route from Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe by charging each settler along the route to American invasion . and along the Humber and Holland Riv- clear six acres of land within 12 months, The Toronto Passage on Lake Ontario, ers . The trail was a necessary route, since including a section of Yonge Street . Simcoe known by the First Nations as the Car- the shallow Humber was often difficult set convicted drunks to removing tree rying Place Trail, was the site of Fort to navigate, it froze solid in winter and its stumps as part of their sentences . Rouillé, which was burned down in 1759 steep banks offered little defence against The completion of Yonge Street was an- by French troops retreating from British attack . nounced on February 20, 1796 .Today, what forces . It was a minor site for trade and Simcoe and his party traversed the diffi- was once Simcoe’s military road stretches settlement, but gained importance after cult marshland to Lac aux Claies, which he some 1,900 kilometres . the American Revolution . renamed Lake Simcoe to honour his father . Today, what was once Simcoe's military Loyalists moving northward to British He determined that the portage was an road is part of a road system that stretches territory established settlements along the unsuitable route to Georgian Bay, perhaps some 1,900 kilometres and has been my- upper Saint Lawrence and lower Great because his guides got lost on the return thologized as the world's longest street . Lakes, leading to the creation of Upper Can- trip . They returned from Holland Landing ada and the establishment of York (Toronto) . by way of Bond Lake and branches of the Laura Neilson Bonikowsky is associate When war broke out between England Don River . Simcoe had found his route and editor of The Canadian Encyclopedia .

diplomat and international canada 73 DELIGHTS|ENTERTAINING

Exploring Norway’s fresh-food culture

wealth generated in recent years from the as well as suitable quantities of beer and a oil and gas industry and easy access to spiced spirit called aquavit [derived from international products, Norwegians con- Latin aqua vītae, “water of life”] . tinue to relish recipes drawn from local in- Turning to the land, game is abundant gredients with an emphasis on fish, game, and part of the local diet . In the serenity lamb, fruits and vegetables . And though of the north, reindeer is prepared and there is great emphasis on “freshness,” preserved in countless ways . Further culinary traditions linger . Many favourite south, the meat is elk and moose . To this recipes use cured, dried, salted, smoked day, Norwegian families enjoy dishes with and marinated products, reflecting and names such as “bits and pieces” — made Margaret Dickenson respecting long-established traditions of with what Canadians would call “left- preserving seasonal products . overs ”. Ms Eikeland proudly confirms Norway’s long and varied coastline “when food was scarce, we learned to use country’s culture rests in a com- offers a bountiful supply of fish (cod, everything and to add a touch of luxury posite — language, dress, music, salmon, halibut, herring, trout and pol- after frying everything in one pan, we A dance, architecture and tradi- lock) . With their secluded areas and would top the dish off with one fried egg .” tions . A country’s character reveals itself favourable water temperature thanks to Because Norway is located so far north, also through its food, what was, and is, the Gulf Stream, the fjords along the coast Nordic summers provide a slow ripening cultivated in various regions, coupled provide excellent conditions for salmon process of everything that grows during with methods of food preparation and and trout farms . those cool, long-light days (virtually 24 preservation . Norwegians love fish . In the south, hours at one point) . This imparts a depth My next series of articles will explore locals wait for spring when the mackerel of flavour and aroma to berries, fruits and the national cuisine of various countries spawn along the coast . They set the table vegetables . Even animals grazing on the through my own personal experiences and enjoy a festive meal of fried mack- succulent grass and herbs, similarly have and research, conversations with heads of erel and rhubarb soup . Regardless of the a distinctive flavour . Indeed, Norwegian mission of embassies and high commis- region, traditional fish soup served with lamb ranks among the best in the world sions, often with their chefs . The series something on the side is a favourite . Ms — finely muscled, always tender with a begins with Norway . Eikeland animatedly recalls eating fish unique but mild flavour . Norway, like Canada, enjoys a great five times a week as a child — fish caught Respecting their traditional food cul- diversity of geography and topography, by her own family or by neighbours . ture, creative Norwegian chefs today are plus an enviable wealth of food products For special occasions, there is shrimp . showcasing their country’s ingredients by from both land and water . A country of “Back home, it is boiled in sea water and devising innovative recipes and menus magnificent fjords, mountains, rivers, flash frozen on the fishing vessels, and (often applying classical methods of lakes, forests and grasslands, Norway has thus is quite salty,” she says . “The bigger French cuisine) and being recognized as more than the upper third of its length the shrimp the better ”. Guests feast on international award-winning chefs . stretching beyond the Arctic Circle . How- thawed shrimp presented in large bowls . Enjoy a touch of Norwegian food ever, unlike Canada, its climate is greatly They peel and eat the shrimp with fresh culture with my very popular marinated influenced by the warm Gulf Stream . Also, bread, lemon and homemade mayonnaise salmon . Bon Appétit! with the entire country being situated so far north, all regions experience long summer days . These factors, of course, influence Norwegian food culture . In Norway, what one eats today is closely related to what was available decades ago, even centuries ago, when “eating local” was the only choice . Historically, most Norwegians lived modestly in small villages where “nose- to-tail” eating was popular . That tradition hasn’t faded . Norwegian Ambassador Else Berit Eikeland recalls with fondness her mother’s home-cooked meals . To this day, she kenson c loves dried leg of lamb (a definite “must i have” at Christmas) and all the “exotic D arry arry treats” retrieved from boiled lamb heads . L Yes, eyes, cheeks and so much more . In- Norwegian marinated salmon terestingly enough, despite the amazing

74 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN ENTERTAINING|DELIGHTS

Marinated Salmon Marinated salmon is most often presented as an hors d’oeuvre or appetizer . How- ever, served with a mustard drizzle and creamed potatoes (i e. ,. diced cooked potatoes gently tossed with a cream sauce), it makes a creative main course .

1 lb (450 g) fresh salmon fillet (deboned), with skin attached 2 tbsp (30 mL) granulated sugar 2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped fresh dill weed 2 tbsp (30 mL) vodka 1 1/2 tsp (8 mL) anise seed 1 1/2 tsp (8 mL) crushed black peppercorns 1 tsp (5 mL) crushed dried tarragon 1 tsp (5 mL) salt 4/5 cup (200 mL) Mustard Drizzle*

1 . Place salmon fillet in a flat glass baking dish (slightly larger than fillet) with skin side down . In a small bowl, mix together sugar, chopped dill, vodka, anise seed, crushed peppercorns, tarragon and salt; rub mixture into flesh of salmon (upper flesh side and edges) . Cover surface of salmon with plastic wrap and place dish of salmon into a loose plastic bag . 2 . Locate a weight of suitable size to cover entire surface of salmon; place weight on salmon . (Note: Weight is placed on exterior surface of plastic bag that encloses salmon ). 3 . Refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to a couple of days, turning salmon fillet over in dish from time to time . 4 . Before serving, remove marinated fillet from dish and drain . (It is not necessary to remove herbs and spices that stick to flesh .) Carefully cut skin and any dark central fatty areas away from flesh, and discard . Cut marinated fillet into thin vertical slices (thickness: 1/5 inch or 0 5. cm) . * To make a quick mustard drizzle, in a medium-sized bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp (30 mL) of both Dijon mustard and a grainy mustard, 1 tbsp (15 mL) of sugar, 2 tsp (10 mL) of cider vinegar and 2 egg yolks . Whisking constantly, gradually add 1/2 cup (125 mL) of canola oil in a thread-like manner until the mixture is emulsified .

Margaret Dickenson is author of the international award winning cookbook, Margaret's Table, also creator and host of the TV series, Margaret's Table, and recipient of the University of Guelph's 2011 Alumnus of Honour . See www mar. - garetstable .ca .

diplomat and international canada 75 DELIGHTS|RESIDENCES

An elegant Egyptian renovation By Margo Roston ilson W yanne yanne D ll photos by A :

The main reception room at the grandly renovated Egyptian ambassador’s residence

he Egyptian embassy residence is local beauty, and their three children . The de Courcy Topley, who named the house a treat for the eye . But it’s tucked site is special, on a hill facing east over Bonnycrest, lived there from 1919-1953 Taway up a lane off Acacia Avenue the Ottawa River and the lovely National (according to Rockcliffe Park: A History of so it’s a treat that casual passers-by might Capital Commission’s Rockeries . the Village by Martha Edmond ). well miss . His own family house was designed in Following its years as a private home, Attractive wrought-iron gates lead up the same popular Tudor Revival style that it was bought by the Egyptian govern- the long driveway to the front entrance the society architect used for other Rock- ment, which decided in 2006 that it was of a house built in 1913 by Allan Keefer, cliffe houses — many of which are now too small to fulfil its duties as an official the architect for Stornoway and for many owned by foreign governments . residence . So Egypt embarked on a major residences that are now owned by embas- Not long after his home was complete, renovation, almost tripling the size of the sies . This house was for his wife Claire, a prominent Ottawa photographer William original building but with a respectful eye

76 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN residences|DELIGHTS ilson W yanne yanne D all photos

The sunporch/entrance to the residence An Egyptian secretary desk and a painting that shows an alley in Egypt

The dining room is part of the large expansion and features new wood paneling that matches the old perfectly.

diplomat and international canada 77 DELIGHTS|residences

The silver bowl in which Ambassador Wael presented a wedding gift.

to the heritage values of the home and the area. The $3 million renovation received an infill award from the City of Ottawa. The first thing that catches your eye is the original double-height bay window in the front. Half-timbered multi-paned windows, a stepped parapet and a recessed entrance sheltered with triple-arched porch show off Keefer’s elegant design. The original entrance has been en- hanced by glassing in the arches, adding a marble floor, sculptures and an Egyptian fountain, along with a small oriental carpet and a table and chairs. This charming entrance leads into the original two-storey Ambassador Wael Aboul-Magd and his wife, Hanan Mohamed Abdel Kader wood-panelled entrance hall with a large fireplace and a filigree wooden screen that runs along the second-floor landing. “It could have been found in a casbah … quite amazing,” says Ambassador Wael Aboul-Magd. “It was really quite a small house.” Now it’s tripled in size from its original, with a large addition out back. The original small living room gives way to an enormous reception room lined with French doors and full-length windows. Colourful paintings, most from the ambassador’s personal collection, adorn the cream-coloured walls. A combination of five large chandeliers, many pot lights and several skylights give a sense of light and space, even on the darkest days. Sliding doors can be opened or closed to make the large reception room suitable for different occasions. Egyptian furniture is a feature of the room and there is a large silver collection belonging to the family, including all photos Dyanne Wilson all photos Dyanne the silver bowl in which the ambassador The exterior of the Acacia Avenue home presented the dowry to his fiancée’s father.

78 FALL 2011 | OCT-NOV-DEC residences|DELIGHTS

A sunroom in the residence

“We are a thoroughly modern Egyptian couple,” says his wife, Hanan Mohamed Abdel Kader, “but we enjoy traditional your style, your personality, our expertise. things ”. They take the silver bowl everywhere they go, including former postings in New York, New Delhi and Washington . COMMITTED TO QUALITY Behind the reception room is a glassed- INSPIRED BY DESIGN 1134 Bank street (near sunnyside) 613.730.9090 in sunroom which looks out over a large www.elitedraperies.ca patio and garden . The dining room is an amazing creation in a large extension added to the original space . Lovely new wood panelling has been expertly matched with the original work so it’s almost impossible for the casual eye to spot the difference . As for bedrooms, Mrs . Magd says, with a laugh, that she not sure how many there are . “I have counted five ”. The house was updated with a commercial-style kitchen and is commanded by Lebanese chef Rafik Girges, who has worked at the residence for 11 years . And while the couple likes to entertain in a modern style, they also enjoy serving favourites from home . If you are lucky enough to be invited for dinner, you might enjoy stuffed grape leaves and peppers, veal and lamb chops with garlic and “lots of mint,” lentil soup and baklava . A house specialty is Turkish coffee and melt-in- your-mouth balah el sham, sweet oriental fritters . Four staff members look after the house, its occupants, and driving duties . With his country in turmoil, the ambassador is hard at work on the diplomatic front, but at his Ottawa residence he and his wife and young son have an historical and elegant retreat in which to ponder world events .

Margo Roston is Diplomat’s culture editor .

diplomat and international canada 79 DELIGHTS|envoy’s album

6. 1.

3. 1. Senator Marjory LeBreton, left, attended Australia Day, hosted by High Commissioner Louise Hand at the National Arts Centre in January. 2. To mark the national day of the State of Qatar, Ambassador Salem Mubarak Al-Shafi hosted a reception at the Hilton Lac-Leamy Hotel. From left, Al-Shafi, Chief of Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk and his wife, Leslie. 3. Brunei High Commissioner Rakiah Lamit, right, hosted a national day reception at the high commission in March. Thai Ambassador Udomphol Ninnad attended. (Photo: Sam Garcia) 4. Haitian Charge d'Affaires Natalie Menos-Gissel hosted a national day celebration in February. (Photo: Ulle Baum) 5. Cuban Ambassador Teresita Sotolongo hosted a national day reception in January, which Green Party leader Elizabeth May attended. (Photo: Ulle Baum) 6. Tai- pei economic and cultural office representative David Lee, right, hosted Taiwan Night at the Chateau Laurier. The event was attended by numerous parliamentarians, including House of Commons Speaker Andrew Scheer, left.

80 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN envoy's album|DELIGHTS

1. 6.

3. 1. Serbian Ambassador Zoran Veljic hosted a national day event at the embassy in February. (Photo: Sam Garcia) 2. To mark the 64th national day of Sri Lanka, High Commissioner Chitranganee Wagiswara and her husband, Duleep, hosted a cultural performance and reception Feb. 8 at the Museum of Civilization. (Photo: Ulle Baum) 3. To mark the 51st anniversary of the national day of Kuwait, Ambassador Ali H.S. Al-Sammak hosted a dinner-reception at the Ottawa Convention Centre Feb. 27. He’s shown with Saudi Ambassador Osamah A. Al Sanosi Ahmad. (Photo: Sam Garcia) 4. In February, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and his daughter, Reet Pallas, successfully finished their fourth cross-country ski marathon together, and their first in Canada. (Photo: Ulle Baum) 5. The Chinese embassy hosted a Chinese New Year event at the Mandarin Ogilvy restaurant in February. Minister-counsellor Liu Jin spoke. (Photo: Ulle Baum) 6. To mark the launch of next year's festivities surrounding the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and South Korea, Ambas- sador Joo-Hong Nam, left, and his wife, Mi-Sook Um, right, hosted a dinner and cultural event attended by chief of protocol, Margaret Huber, centre. (Photo: Korean embassy)

diplomat and international canada 81 DELIGHTS|envoy’s album

1. The Embassy of Azerbaijan commemorated the 22nd anniversary of Black January 1990, when the Soviet Union stormed Baku. The embassy hosted a concert at Library and Archives Canada featuring the Toronto Mendelssohn Trio (from left, Roudat Amiraliev, Teimour Sadykhov and Rachad Feizoul- lav). (Photo: Sam Garcia) 2. The embassy of Ukraine held a reception to mark Armed Forces Day. From left, Korean defence attaché Col. Soo Wan Lee, Ukrainian defence attaché Col. Ihor Likarenko, Ukraine chargé d’affaires Mykhailo Khomenko, National Defence director Capt. S.C.Bertrand and Ukraine’s second secretary Denys Sienik. 3. To mark the United Arab Emirates’ national day, Ambas- sador Mohamed Abdulla M. Bin Mutleq Al-Ghafli set up a traditional tent within the embassy’s walls.

82 WINTER 2012 | JAN-FEB-MAR envoy's album|DELIGHTS

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3. • Excellent location, steps from great shopping, fine dining, entertainment 1. The Canada-China Cultural Development Association (CCDA) partnered with the Heart & Stroke • Easy access to embassies, government Foundation and presented a show featuring a Chinese performing arts group at Centrepointe The- offices and the business district atre. (Photo: Rudy Gao) 2. Jose del Carmen Urena, ambassador of Dominican Republic, hosted an • Complimentary WiFi throughout hotel independence day event March 3 at Tetreau Community Centre in Gatineau (Hull). From left, MP Jose • Free local calls • Free daily newspaper Nunez-Melo, Ambassador Urena, Arelis Medina, vice-president of the Dominican Cultural Association • Indoor pool, 24-hr fitness facility and Silfredo Almonte, president of the Dominican Cultural Association. (Photo: Danilo Velasquez) 3. Extended Stay Rates Available The Sir Winston Churchill Society of Ottawa launched at Earnscliffe, home of British High Commis- sioner Andrew Pocock and his wife, Julie. From left, Ron Cohen, Wendy Cohen, the Pococks, Allen Packwood, director of the Churchill Archives Centre at Cambridge University and the inaugural speaker.

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diplomat and international canada 83 DIGNiTARIES|NEW ARRIVALS

New heads of mission Non-heads of mission Abdelaziz A. Almansouri Russia Counsellor Varvara Dronova Louise Hand Third secretary Madagascar High Commissioner for Australia Philippe Velo Senegal Argentina France Counsellor Aliou Diouf Dario Javier Helbert Alexandre Aaron Vulic First secretary Ms Hand is a senior ca- Third secretary Minister-counsellor reer diplomat with for- New Zealand Michael Kelvin Pannett South Africa Australia Iceland eign affairs . Prior to her Counsellor Wida Anscois Cloete Russell John Page Kristin Eva Jansson appointment to Canada, First secretary Defence adviser Sigurdardottir Niger she was ambassador for Second secretary and Yacouba Mahamane Turkey climate change from 2009 Chile chargé d’affaires, A.I. until 2011 . Previously, she Elena Del Carmen Chargé d’affaires Ahmet Ozel Attaché Bornand Perez Israel served overseas as minister and deputy Peru Rodriguez First secretary Eden Avraham Attias head of mission in Indonesia (2005 to 2009), Roberto Rafael Max Ukraine Minister-counsellor ambassador to Cambodia (2000 to 2003), Ramiro Navajas Santini Arnillas Natalia Holub Minister and deputy First secretary counsellor at the Australian permanent mis- Defence attaché Japan head of mission Koichi Nakamoto sion on disarmament in Geneva (1995 to United States Of America China Attaché 1998), third and later second secretary in Philippines Creg Dalton Paulk Ji Yang Rhodora Manlapaz Defence Attaché Austria (1986 to 1989) . First secretary Chisa Takiguchi Attaché In Canberra, Ms Hand has been assistant Second secretary secretary, arms control branch (1999 to 2000), Ping Chen Alan Leonard Langford Neil Frank Ferrer Attaché Third secretary Kazakhstan director, ministerial and executive liaison Minister and consul Artem Kuzmin section (1999), director, business affairs unit general David Alan Bradstock Yiqun He Third secretary (1993 to 1994) and executive assistant to the Minister-counsellor Attaché Miguel Luis Moreno secretary (1992 to 1993) . Daniyar Seidaliyev Attaché Vietnam She holds a bachelor of arts, master’s Cuba Counsellor Yunieski Morales Van Huong Le qualifying degree from the University of Qatar Attaché Medina Libya Hussain Ali S. Al-Fadhala Queensland and an MBA from Deakin Uni- Attaché Esam O. Ben-Zitun Second secretary versity . She is married and has two daugh- First secretary ters . In January 2009, she was awarded a Dominican Republic public service medal for her work in Indo- Briunny Garabito Segura Minister-counsellor nesia .

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84 WINTER 2012 | JAN-FEB-MAR National days|delights

Celebration time A listing of the national and independence days marked by countries

April

4 Senegal Independence Day

17 Syria National Day

18 Zimbabwe Independence Day

26 Tanzania Union Day

27 Sierra Leone Republic Day

27 South Africa Freedom Day

27 Togo National Day

29 Israel National Day

30 Netherlands Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix

May

1 Marshall Islands National Day

3 Poland National Day

9 European Union Schuman Day

15 Paraguay Independence Day

17 Norway Constitution Day

20 Cameroon National Day

22 Yemen National Day

24 Eritrea Independence Day

25 Argentina May Revolution

25 Jordan National Day

26 Georgia Independence Day

28 Azerbaijan Republic Day

28 Ethiopia Downfall of the Dergue

June

1 Samoa Independence Day

2 Italy Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic

4 Tonga Independence Day

5 Denmark Constitution Day

6 Sweden National Day

10 Portugal National Day

12 Philippines National Day

12 Russia National Day

13 United Kingdom Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday

17 Iceland Proclamation of the Republic

18 O/of Eastern Caribbean States OECS Day

18 Seychelles Constitution Day

Official Celebration of the Birthday of His Royal Highness 23 Luxembourg Grand Duke Henri

25 Croatia National Day

25 Slovenia National Day

25 Mozambique Independence Day

26 Madagascar Independence Day

27 Djibouti National Day

29 Holy See National Day

30 Congo, Democratic Republic Independence Day

diplomat and international canada 85 ts

c AFGHANISTAN AUSTRIA BOLIVIA CAMEROON His Ex . Werner Brandstetter His Ex . Edgar Torrez Mosqueira His Ex . Solomon Azoh-Mbi Anu’a- Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Embassy of the Republic of Austria Embassy of the Republic of Bolivia Gheyle ta Afghanistan 445 Wilbrod Street 130 Albert Street, Suite 416 High Commission for the Republic 240 Argyle Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M7 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 of Cameroon Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1B9 TEL 789-1444 FAX 789-3431 TEL 236-5730 FAX 236-8237 170 Clemow Avenue TEL 563-4223 FAX 563-4962 www .austro .org info@emboliviacanada .com Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2B4 contact@afghanemb-canada .net www .emboliviacanada .com TEL 236-1522 FAX 236-3885 www .afghanemb-canada .net AZERBAIJAN cameroon@rogers .com con His Ex . Farid Shafiyev BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA www .hc-cameroon-ottawa .org

ALBANIA Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Her Ex . Biljana Gutic-Bjelica

c Her Ex . Elida Petoshati 275 Slater Street, Suite 904-C Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina CHILE i Embassy of the Republic of Albania Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9 130 Albert Street, Suite 805 His Ex . Roberto Ibarra García 130 Albert Street, Suite 302 TEL 288-0497 FAX 230-8089 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Embassy of the Republic of Chile Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 TEL 236-0028 FAX 236-1139 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1413 TEL 236-4114 FAX 236-0804 BAHAMAS embassyofbih@bellnet .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 [email protected] His Ex . Michael D . Smith www .bhembassy .ca TEL 235-9940 FAX 235-1176 Bahamas High Commission echileca@chile .ca ALGERIA 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1313 BRAZIL www .chile .ca His Ex . Smail Benamara Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 His Ex . Piragibe dos Santos Tarrago Embassy of the People’s Democratic TEL . 232-1724 FAX 232-0097 Embassy of the Federative Republic CHINA Republic of Algeria ottawa-mission@bahighco .com of Brazil His Ex . Junsai Zhang 500 Wilbrod Street plomat http://bahamas .com 450 Wilbrod Street Embassy of the People’s Republic

i Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N2 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M8 of China TEL 789-8505 FAX 789-1406 BANGLADESH TEL 237-1090 FAX 237-6144 515 St . Patrick Street d www .embassyalgeria .ca/eng .htm His Ex . A .M . Yakub Ali mailbox@brasembottawa .org Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5H3 High Commission for the People’s TEL . 789-3434 FAX 789-1911 ANGOLA Republic of Bangladesh BRUNEI DARUSSALAM www .chinaembassycanada .org His Ex . Agostinho Tavares da Silva 340 Albert St ,. Suite 1250 Her Ex . Rakiah Haji Abdul Lamit Neto Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7Y6 High Commission for Brunei COLOMBIA Embassy of the Republic of Angola TEL 236-0138 FAX 567-3213 Darussalam Her Ex . Clemencia Furero Ucros 189 Laurier Avenue East bangla@rogers .com 395 Laurier Avenue East Embassy of the Republic of Colombia Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6P1 www .bdhc .org Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R4 360 Albert Street, Suite 1002 TEL 234-1152 FAX 234-1179 TEL 234-5656 FAX 234-4397 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 info@embangola-can .org BARBADOS bhco@bellnet .ca TEL 230-3760 FAX 230-4416 www .embangola-can .org His Ex . Edward Evelyn Greaves embajada@embajadacolombia .ca High Commission for Barbados BULGARIA www .embajadacolombia .ca ARGENTINA 55 Metcalfe St ,. Suite 470 His Ex . Evgueni Stoytchev Embassy of the Argentine Republic Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6L5 Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria CONGO (ZAIRE) 81 Metcalfe Street 7th Floor TEL 236-9517 FAX 230-4362 325 Stewart Street His Ex . Dominique Kilufya Kamfwa Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6K7 ottawa@foreign .gov .bb Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K5 Embassy of the Democratic Republic TEL 236-2351 FAX 235-2659 TEL 789-3215 FAX 789-3524 of the Congo embargentina@argentina-canada .net BELARUS embgottawa@hotmail .com 18 Range Road www .argentina-canada .net Embassy of the Republic of Belarus Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J3 130 Albert Street, Suite 600 BURKINA FASO TEL 230-6391 FAX 230-1945 ARMENIA Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 His Ex. Amadou Adrien Koné His Ex . Armen Yeganian TEL 233-9994 FAX 233-8500 Embassy of Burkina Faso COSTA RICA Embassy of the Republic of Armenia belamb@igs .net 48 Range Road His Ex . Luis Carlos Delgado Murillo 7 Delaware Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0Z2 BELGIUM TEL 238-4796 FAX 238-3812 325 Dalhousie Street, Suite 407 TEL 234-3710 FAX 234-3444 Hi Ex . Bruno van der Pluijm burkina .faso@sympatico .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7G2 armcanadaembassy@mfa .com Embassy of Belgium www ambaburkina-canada. org. TEL . 562-2855 FAX 562-2582 www .armembassycanada .ca 360 Albert Street, Suite 820 embcr@costaricaembassy .com Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 BURUNDI www costaricaembassy. com. AUSTRALIA TEL 236-7267 FAX 236-7882 Mrs . Justine Semonde Her Ex . Louise Hand ottawa@diplobel .fed .be Chargé d'Affaires CÔTE D’IVOIRE Australian High Commission www diplomatie. be/ottawa. Embassy of the Republic of Burundi Embassy of the Republic of 50 O’Connor, Suite 710 325 Dalhousie Street, Suite 815 Côte d’Ivoire Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 BENIN Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7G2 9 Marlborough Avenue TEL 236-0841 FAX 216-1321 His Ex . Honoré Ahimakin TEL 789-0414 FAX 789-9537 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8E6 www .canada .embassy .gov .au Embassy of the Republic of Benin ambabottawa@yahoo .ca TEL . 236-9919 FAX 563-8287 58 Glebe Avenue www .ambabucanada .com acica@ambaci-ottawa .org Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2C3 www .ambaci-ottawa .org TEL 233-4429 FAX 233-8952 ambaben@benin .ca

86 | EMBASSIES | HIGH COMMISSIONS ‑ | OTHER INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES WINTER 2012 | JAN-FEB-MAR ts

CROATIA EUROPEAN UNION GUINEA IRAN c His Ex. Veselko Grubišić His Excellency Matthias Brinkmann Embassy of the Republic of Guinea Mr . Kambiz Sheikh Hassani Embassy of the Republic of Croatia Delegation of the European 483 Wilbrod Street Chargé d'Affaires

229 Chapel Street Commission to Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N1 Embassy of the Islamic ta Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7Y6 150 Metcalfe St . Suite 1900 TEL . 789-8444 FAX 789-7560 Republic of Iran TEL . 562-7820 FAX 562-7821 Ottawa, ON K2P1P1 ambassadedeguinee@bellnet .ca 245 Metcalfe Street Croatia .emb@mvpei .hr TEL . 238-6464 FAX 238-5191 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K2 www .croatiaemb .net delegation-canada@ec .europa .eu GUYANA TEL . 235-4726 FAX 232-5712 www .delcan .ec .europa .eu His Ex . Harry Narine Nawbatt executive@iranembassy .ca

CUBA High Commission for the Republic www .salamiran .org con Her Ex . Teresita de Jesús Vicente FINLAND of Guyana 151 Slater Street, Suite 800 Sotolongo His Ex . Risto Ensio Piipponen IRAQ c

Embassy of the Republic of Cuba Embassy of the Republic of Finland Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 His Ex . Abdulrahman Mohammed i 388 Main Street 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 850 TEL . 235-7249 FAX 235-1447 Al-Hussaini Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1E3 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L5 Embassy of the Republic of Iraq TEL . 563-0141 FAX 563-0068 TEL . 288-2233 FAX 288-2244 HAITI 215 McLeod Street cuba@embacuba .ca embassy@finland .ca His Ex. Frantz Liautaud Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0Z8 www .embacuba .ca Embassy of the Republic of Haiti TEL . 236-9177 FAX 236-9641 FRANCE 130 Albert Street, Suite 1500 media@iraqembassy .ca CZECH REPUBLIC His Ex . Philippe Zeller Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 www .iraqembassy .ca His Ex. Karel Žebrakovský Embassy of France TEL . 238-1628 FAX 238-2986 Embassy of the Czech Republic 42 Sussex Drive bohio@sympatico .ca IRELAND 251 Cooper Street Ottawa, Ontario K1M 2C9 His Ex . John Raymond Bassett plomat

Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0G2 TEL . 789-1795 FAX 562-3735 HOLY SEE Embassy of Ireland i TEL . 562-3875 FAX 562-3878 www .ambafrance-ca .org His Ex . Pedro Lopez Quintana 130 Albert Street, Suite 1105

ottawa@embassy .mzv .cz Apostolic Nunciature Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 d GABON 724 Manor Avenue TEL . 233-6281 FAX 233-5835 DENMARK Embassy of the Gabonese Republic Ottawa, Ontario K1M 0E3 Ottawaembassy@dfa .ie His Ex . Erik Vilstrup Lorenzen 4 Range Road, P O. . Box 368 TEL . 746-4914 FAX 746-4786 www .embassyofireland .ca Royal Danish Embassy Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J5 47 Clarence Street, Suite 450 TEL . 232-5301 FAX 232-6916 HONDURAS ISRAEL Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9K1 ambgabon@sprint .ca Her Ex . Sofia Lastenia Cerrato Her Ex . Miriam Ziv TEL . 562-1811 FAX 562-1812 Rodriguez Embassy of Israel ottamb@um .dk GEORGIA Embassy of the Republic of 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1005 www .ambottawa .um .dk His Ex . Levan Metreveli Honduras Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 Embassy of Georgia 151 Slater Street, Suite 805 TEL . 567-6450 FAX 567-9878 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 2101 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 info@ottawa .mfa .gov .il His Ex . Jose Del Carmen Urena Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1 TEL . 233-8900 FAX 232-0193 www .embassyofIsreal .ca Embassy of the Dominican Republic Tel . 421-0460 Fax 680-0394 130 Albert Street, Suite 418 HUNGARY ITALY Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 GERMANY His Ex . László Pordány His Ex . Andrea Meloni TEL . 569-9893 FAX 569-8673 His Ex . Georg Witschel Embassy of the Republic of Embassy of the Italian Republic www .drembassy .org Embassy of the Federal Republic of Hungary 275 Slater Street, 21st Floor Germany 299 Waverley Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9 ECUADOR 1 Waverley Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0V9 TEL . 232-2401 FAX 233-1484 His Ex . Andrés Teran Parral Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0T8 TEL . 230-2717 FAX 230-7560 www.ambottawa.esteri.it Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador TEL . 232-1101 FAX 594-9330 www .mfa .gov .hu/emb/ottawa [email protected]. 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 316 info@otta .diplo .de mission .ott@kum .hu Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 http:/www .ottawa .diplo .de JAMAICA TEL . 563-4286 FAX 235-5776 ICELAND Her Ex . Sheila Ivoline Sealy- GHANA His Ex . Thordur Aegir Oskarsson Monteith EGYPT His Ex . Richard Benjamin Turkson Embassy of Iceland Jamaican High Commission His Ex . Wael Ahmed Kamal Aboul High Commission for the Republic 360 Albert Street, Suite 710 151 Slater Street, Suite 1000 Magd of Ghana Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3 Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt 153 Gilmour Street TEL . 482-1944 FAX 482-1945 TEL . 233-9311 FAX 233-0611 454 Laurier Avenue East Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0N8 icemb .ottawa@utn .stjr .is hc@jhcottawa .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R3 TEL . 236-0871 FAX 236-0874 WEB: www iceland. org. ca. TEL . 234-4931 FAX 234-4398 ghanacom@ghc-ca .com JAPAN egyptemb@sympatico .ca www .ghc-ca .com INDIA His Ex . Kaoru Ishikawa www .mfa .gov .eg His Ex . Shashishekhar M . Gavai Embassy of Japan GREECE High Commission for the Republic 255 Sussex Drive EL SALVADOR His Ex . Eleftherios Anghelopoulos of India Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9E6 His Ex . Oscar Mauricio Duarte Embassy of the Hellenic Republic 10 Springfield Road TEL . 241-8541 FAX 241-2232 Granados 80 MacLaren Street, Suite 76 Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1C9 infocul@embjapan .ca Embassy of the Republic of El Salvador Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0K6 TEL . 744-3751 FAX 744-0913 www .ca .emb-japan .go .jp 209 Kent Street TEL . 238-6271 FAX 238-5676 hicomind@hciottawa .ca Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1Z8 embassy@greekembassy .ca www .hciottawa .ca JORDAN TEL . 238-2939 FAX 238-6940 www greekembassy. ca. His Ex . Basheer Fawwaz Zoubi embajada@elsalvador-ca .org INDONESIA Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom GUATEMALA Her Ex . Dienne H . Moehario of Jordan ESTONIA His Excellency Georges de La Roche Embassy of the Republic of 100 Bronson Avenue, Suite 701 Mr . Riho Kruuv Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6G8 Chargé d’Affaires Guatemala 55 Parkdale Avenue TEL . 238-8090 FAX 232-3341 Embassy of the Republic of Estonia 130 Albert Street, Suite 1010 Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 1E5 www .embassyofjordan .ca 260 Dalhousie Street, Suite 210 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 TEL . 724-1100 FAX 724-1105 ottawa@fm gov. jo. (embassy) Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E4 TEL . 233-7237 FAX 233-0135 info@indonesia-ottawa .org ottawa-consular@fm . gov . jo (consular) TEL . 789-4222 FAX 789-9555 embassy1@embaguate-canada .com www .indonesia-ottawa .org embassy .ottawa@mfa .ee www .embaguate-canada .com KAZAKHSTAN His Ex. Ambassador Konstantin Zhigalov www .estemb .ca Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan 56 Hawthorne Avenue Ottawa, ON K1S 0B1 TEL 788-3704 FAX 788-3702

diplomat and international canada 87 ts

c KENYA MADAGASCAR NEW ZEALAND PERU His Ex . Simon Wanyonyi Nabukwesi His . Ex . Simon Constant Horace His Ex . Andrew Needs His Ex . José Antonio Bellina High Commission for the Republic Embassy of the Republic of New Zealand High Commission Embassy of the Republic of Peru ta of Kenya Madagascar 99 Bank Street, Suite 727 130 Albert Street, Suite 1901 415 Laurier Avenue East 3 Raymond Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6G3 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R4 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1A3 TEL . 238-5991 FAX 238-5707 TEL . 238-1777 FAX 232-3062 TEL . 563-1773 FAX 233-6599 TEL: 567-0505 FAX 567-2882 info@nzhcottawa .org emperuca@bellnet .ca kenyahighcommission@rogers .com ambamadcanada@bellnet .ca www .nzembassy .com/canada www .kenyahighcommission .ca www .madagascar-embassy .ca PHILIPPINES con NIGER His Ex . Leslie B . Gatan

KOREA, REPUBLIC MALAYSIA Her Ex . Nana Aicha Foumakoye Embassy of the Republic of the

c His Ex . Nam Joo-hong Her Ex . Dato’ Hayati Ismail Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines i Embassy of the Republic of Korea High Commission for Malaysia Niger 130 Albert Street, Suite 900 150 Boteler Street 60 Boteler Street 38 Blackburn Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5A6 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8Y7 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8A3 TEL . 233-1121 FAX 233-4165 TEL . 244-5010 FAX 244-5034 TEL . 241-5182 FAX 241-5214 TEL . 232-4291 FAX 230-9808 embassyofphilippines@rogers .com www .emb-korea .ottawa .on .ca malottawa@kln .gov .my www .philippineembassy .ca NIGERIA KUWAIT MALI Ex . Iyorwuese Hagher POLAND His Ex . Ali Al-Sammak Her Ex . Traoré Ami Diallo High Commission for the Federal His Ex . Zenon Kosiniak-Kamysz Embassy of the State of Kuwait Embassy of the Republic of Mali Republic of Nigeria Embassy of the Republic of Poland 333 Sussex Drive 50 Goulburn Avenue 295 Metcalfe Street 443 Daly Avenue

plomat Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 1J9 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8C8 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1R9 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6H3 i TEL . 780-9999 FAX 780-9905 TEL . 232-1501 FAX 232-7429 Tel . 236-0521 Fax 236-0529 TEL . 789-0468 FAX 789-1218 ambassadedumali@rogers .com ottawa .info@msz .gov .pl d LATVIA www .ambamalicanada .org NORWAY His Ex . Juris Audarins Her Ex . Else Berit Eikeland PORTUGAL Embassy of the Republic of Latvia MEXICO Royal Norwegian Embassy His Ex . Pedro Moitinho de Almeida 350 Sparks Street, Suite 1200 His Ex . Francisco Javier Barrio 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1300 Embassy of Portugal Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8 Terrazas Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1 645 Island Park Drive TEL . 238-6014 FAX 238-7044 Embassy of the United Mexican TEL . 238-6571 FAX 238-2765 Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0B8 embassy .canada@mfa .gov .lv States emb .ottawa@mfa .no TEL . 729-0883 FAX 729-4236 www .ottawa .mfa .gov .lv 45 O’Connor Street, Suite 1000 www .emb-norway .ca embportugal@embportugal/ottawa org. Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4 LEBANON TEL . 233-8988 FAX 235-9123 O/OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN QATAR Embassy of Lebanon info@embamexcan .com STATES His Ex. Salem Moubarak Al-Shafi 640 Lyon Street www .embamexcan .com His Ex . Brendon Browne Embassy of the State of Qatar Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3Z5 High Commission for the Countries 150 Metcalfe Street TEL . 236-5825 FAX 232-1609 MONGOLIA of the Organization of Eastern Suite 800 info@lebanonembassy .ca His Ex . His Ex . Zalaa Uul Caribbean States Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8S7 www .lebanonembassy .ca Tundevdorj 130 Albert Street, Suite 700 Tel: (613) 241-4917 Embassy of Mongolia Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Fax: (613) 241-3304 [email protected] LESOTHO 151 Slater Street, Suite 503 TEL . 236-8952 FAX 236-3042 Her Ex . Mathabo Theresia Tsepa Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 echcc@oecs .org High Commission for the Kingdom TEL . 569-3830 FAX 569-3916 www .oecs .org/ottawa ROMANIA of Lesotho mail@mongolembassy .org Her Ex . Elena Stefoi 130 Albert Street, Suite 1820 PAKISTAN Embassy of Romania Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4 MOROCCO His Ex . Akbar Zeb 655 Rideau Street Tel: 234-0770 Fax: 234-5665 Her Ex . Nouzha Chekrouni High Commission for the Islamic Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6A3 Embassy of the Kingdom of Republic of Pakistan TEL . 789-3709 FAX 789-4365 LIBYA Morocco 10 Range Road Romania@romanian-embassy .com Mr. Abubaker M. A Karmos 38 Range Road Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J3 http://ottawa .mae .ro Embassy of Libya Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 TEL . 238-7881 FAX 238-7296 81 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1000 TEL . 236-7391 FAX 236-6164 parepottawa@rogers .com RUSSIA Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6K7 His Ex . Georgiy Mamedov TEL. 842-7519 FAX 842-8627 MYANMAR PALESTINE Embassy of the Russian Federation [email protected] His Ex . Kyaw Tin His Ex . Said M . Hamad 285 Charlotte Street www.libyanembassy.ca Embassy of the Union of Myanmar Head of the General Delegation Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L5 85 Range Road, Suite 902 18 The Driveway TEL . 235-4341 FAX 236-6342 LITHUANIA Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J6 Ottawa, ON K2P 9C6 info@rusembassy .ca Her Ex . Ginte Damusis TEL . 232-9990 FAX 232-6999 TEL: 736-0053 www .rusembassy .ca Embassy of the Republic of meottawa@rogers .com FAX: 736-0535 Lithuania palestinegd@gmail .com RWANDA 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1600 nepal Her Ex . Edda Mukabagwiza Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1 His Ex . Bhoj Raj Ghimire PANAMA High Commission for the Republic TEL . 567-5458 FAX 567-5315 Chargé d'Affaires His Ex . Francisco Carlo Escobar of Rwanda [email protected] Embassy of Nepal Embassy of the Republic of Panama 294 Albert Street, Suite 404 www lithuanianembassy. ca. 408 Queen Street 130 Albert Street, Suite 300 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6E6 Ottawa, ON K1R 5A7 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Phone: 569-5420/22/24 MACEDONIA (REPUBLIC OF) TEL 680-5513 FAX 422-5149 TEL . 236-7177 FAX 236-5775 Fax : 569-5421/5423 His Ex . Ljuben Tevdovski embassyof panama@gmail com. [email protected] www.canada.embassy.gov.rw Embassy of the Republic NETHERLANDS of Macedonia His Ex . Wilhelmus J . P . Geerts PARAGUAY SAUDI ARABIA 130 Albert Street, Suite 1006 Embassy of the Kingdom of the His Ex . Manuel Schaerer His Ex . Osamah Bin Ahmad Al Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Netherlands Kanonnikoff Sanosi Ahmad TEL . 234-3882 FAX 233-1852 350 Albert Street, Suite 2020 Embassy of the Republic of Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1A4 Paraguay 201 Sussex Drive TEL . 237-5030 FAX 237-6471 151 Slater Street, Suite 501 Ottawa, ON K1N 1K6 Ott-cdp@minbuza .nl Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 Tel 237-4100 Fax 237-0567 TEL . 567-1283 FAX 567-1679 embassy@embassyofparaguay .ca

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SENEGAL SUDAN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G8 c His . Ex . Amadou Tidiane Wone Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan His Ex . Philip Buxo Tel: 613-232-0909 Embassy of the Republic of Senegal 354 Stewart Street High Commission for the Republic Fax: 613-230-1855

57 Marlborough Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K8 of Trinidad and Tobago www .unhcr .ca ta Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8E8 TEL . 235-4000 FAX 235-6880 200 First Avenue, Third Level TEL . 238-6392 FAX 238-2695 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2G6 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Info@ambsencanada .org SWEDEN TEL . 232-2418 FAX 232-4349 His Ex . David Cary Jacobson His Excellency Teppo Markus ottawa@ttmissions .com Embassy of the United States of SERBIA Tauriainen America

His Ex . Zoran Veljic Embassy of Sweden TUNISIA 490 Sussex Drive con Embassy of the Republic of Serbia 377 Dalhousie Street His Ex . Mouldi Sakri Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8

17 Blackburn Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9N8 Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia TEL . 238-5335 FAX 688-3088 c

Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8A2 TEL . 244-8200 FAX 241-2277 515 O’Connor Street www .usembassycanada .gov i TEL . 233-6289 FAX 233-7850 Sweden .ottawa@foreign .ministry .se Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3P8 generalinfo@serbianembassy .ca www swedishembassy. ca. TEL . 237-0330 FAX 237-7939 URUGUAY www .serbianembassy .ca atottawa@comnet .ca His Excellency Elbio Oscar Rosselli SWITZERLAND Frieri SLOVAK REPUBLIC His Ex . Ulrich Lehner TURKEY Embassy of the Oriental Republic of His Ex . Milan Kollár Embassy of Switzerland His Ex . Rafet Akgünay Uruguay Embassy of the Slovak Republic 5 Marlborough Avenue Embassy of the Republic of Turkey 130 Albert Street, Suite 1905 50 Rideau Terrace Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8E6 197 Wurtemburg Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Ottawa, Ontario K1M 2A1 TEL . 235-1837 FAX 563-1394 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L9v TEL . 234-2727 FAX 233-4670 TEL . 749-4442 FAX 749-4989 ott .vertretung@eda .admin .ch TEL(613) 244-2470 FAX 789-3442 plomat

emb .ottawa@mzv .sk embassy .ottawa@mfa .gov .tr VENEZUELA i www .mzv .sk/ottawa SYRIA www turkishembassy. com. Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic

Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic of Venezuela d SLOVENIA 46 Cartier Street UGANDA 32 Range Road Ex . Tomaz Kunstelj Ottawa, ON K2P 1J3 His Ex . George Marino Abola Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia TEL . 569-5556 FAX 569-3800 High Commission for the Republic TEL . 235-5151 FAX 235-3205 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 2200 www .syrianembassy .ca of Uganda www .misionvenezuela .org Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1P1 231 Cobourg Street TEL . 565-5781 FAX 565-5783 TAIPEI Economic & Cultural office Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J2 VIETNAM vot@gov .si David Tawei Lee, Representative TEL . 789-7797 FAX 789-8909 His Ex . Sy Vuong Ha Le http://ottawa .veleposlanistvo .si/ 45 O’Connor Street, Suite 1960 uhc@ugandahighcommission .com Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4 www .ugandahighcommission .ca Vietnam SOUTH AFRICA TEL . 231-5080 FAX 231-7112 470 Wilbrod Street Her Ex . Mohau Pheko publicaffairs@on .aibn .com UKRAINE Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M8 High Commission for the Republic His . Ex . Ihor Ostash TEL . 236-0772 FAX 236-2704 of South Africa TANZANIA Embassy of Ukraine 15 Sussex Drive His Ex . Alex Crescent Massinda 310 Somerset Street, West, YEMEN Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1M8 High Commission for the United Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0J9 His Ex . Khaled Mahfoodh Bahah TEL . 744-0330 FAX 741-1639 Republic of Tanzania Tel . 230-2961 Fax 230-2400 Embassy of the Republic of Yemen rsafrica@southafrica-canada .ca 50 Range Road emb_ca@ukremb .ca 54 Chamberlain Avenue www .southafrica-canada .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 www .ukremb .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1V9 TEL . 232-1509 FAX 232-5184 TEL . 729-6627 FAX 729-8915 SPAIN tzottawa@synapse .ca UNITED ARAB EMIRATES www .yemenembassy .ca His Ex . Eudaldo Mirapeix www .tanzaniahighcommission .ca His Ex . Mohamed Abdulla M . Bin Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain Mutleq Al Ghafli ZAMBIA 74 Stanley Avenue THAILAND 125 Boteler Street His Ex. Bobby Mbunji Samakai Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1P4 His Ex . Udomphol Ninnad Ottawa, Ontario K1N 0A4 High Commission for the Republic TEL . 747-2252 FAX 744-1224 The Royal Thai Embassy TEL . 565-7272 FAX 565-8007 of Zambia embespca@mail .mae .es 180 Island Park Drive Consulate FAX: 565-1444 151 Slater St ,. Suite 205 www .embaspain .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0A2 www .uae-embassy .ae/ca Ottawa, Ontario TEL . 722-4444 FAX 722-6624 reception@uae-embassy .com K1B 5H3 SRI LANKA thaiott@magma .ca TEL . 232-4400 FAX 232-4410 Her Ex . Chitranganee Wagiswara UNITED KINGDOM High Commission for the TOGO His Ex . Andrew Pocock ZIMBABWE Democratic Socialist Republic Embassy of the Togolese Republic British High Commission Her Ex . Florence Zano Chideya of Sri Lanka 12 Range Road 80 Elgin Street Embassy of the Republic of 333 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1204 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J3 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5K7 Zimbabwe Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1C1 TEL . 238-5916 FAX 235-6425 TEL . 237-1530 FAX 237-7980 332 Somerset Street West TEL . 233-8449 FAX 238-8448 www .ukincanada .fco .gov .uk Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0J9 slhcit@rogers .com TEL . 421-2824 FAX 422-7403 www .srilankahcottawa .org UN Refugee agency info@zimottawa .com Furio de Angelis visa@zimottawa .com UNHCR Representative in Canada www .zimottawa .com 280 Albert Street, Suite 401

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90 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN

DELIGHTS|WINE

Savouring sake

ing, the more producers mill the rice, the also made), the majority of sake is allowed better the sake will be . Correspondingly, to rest for about six months . It’s blended with more rice milled away, the less raw with water to bring the alcoholic level material remains . It is this, combined with down to approximately 16 percent before the additional labour required, that usu- being bottled and sold . The source of the ally accounts for higher prices of premium water is important as it will greatly affect grades of sake . the resulting sake’s flavour . Though often called rice wine, sake’s Three-quarters of sake is produced brewing makes it a closer relative to beer with rice which has less than 30 percent of than wine . Also, like beer, the starch of its grain milled away and is classified as Pieter Van den Weghe the source material must be converted to futsu sake . Though there are exceptions, sugar so yeast can turn it into alcohol . For this category of “table sake” is usually beer, this conversion takes place during made with an eye towards quantity and the mashing of malted barley with warm not quality . Often, distilled alcohol is hough delicious, sake can be chal- water before fermentation begins . How- generously added and lower grades of lenging . From sommeliers to nov- ever, as the rice for modern sake has had rice are used . Those looking for a more Tices, many know exactly what they its husk removed, the conversion process compelling drink, should look to the pre- like to drink . We are familiar with wine, must occur with the addition of a mold mium levels of sake requiring milling of beer and spirits, and we have favourite called koji . Before and during the fermen- 30 percent and higher . situations we all like to enjoy them in . It tation, this mold acts to provide the sugar These premium levels of sake are col- can be a pint of lager at the pub, a glass necessary for yeast to make alcohol . lectively called tokutei meishoshu and have of Pinot Noir at dinner, or a whiskey for This process is so vital to the production three ascending levels — from honjozo to some deep conversation . For most of us, of sake that sake breweries have a warm ginjo to daiginjo . The minimum milling re- sake is a great unknown and has no such humid room, called a koji muro, exclusively quirements for these levels are 30 percent, context . It’s often limited to a trip to a Jap- used for the production of fresh koji . With 40 percent and 50 percent of the grain anese restaurant and perhaps ordered on modern technology, machines now auto- removed . Also, these three levels are ap- a lark . However, this tremendous drink matically produce koji, but the best sake is plied to sake which has not had distilled of complex aromas and flavours should still created with hand-made koji. alcohol added to it, and they are called be given a chance to be truly appreciated, In the final stage of brewing, most sake junmai, junmai-ginjo and junmai-daiginjo . especially as, over the last few decades, has distilled alcohol added to it . Though Generally, the junmai premium levels of premium sakes have made their way to this is aggressively done with lower-qual- sake are not considered superior to their the market . ity examples to increase yields, it is also non-junmai counterparts . Sake itself dates back 1,000 years in an important tool when used delicately When looking to purchase premium Japan . It is made with a different kind of for producing premium products . Many sake, look to the label for help . First, while rice than dinner table rice, with the grains brewers believe it increases aromatic all the classifications can be difficult to being longer, stronger and lower in pro- and flavour qualities . That said, a small remember, look for the word ginjo . It will tein . Of the hundred possible types of rice amount of sake is still made in the tra- lead you immediately to the very top which can be used for sake, a dozen are ditional manner without the addition of levels of the sake brewer’s art . Second, a most important, and, like grape varietals, distilled alcohol . These sakes are referred seimibuai number on a label indicates the each provides different flavours . to collectively as junmai . amount of rice that remained after mill- Before fermentation, the rice grains are After pressing, filtering and pasteuri- ing . For example, a seimibuai of 70 percent milled to remove the exterior husk and zation (though a very small amount of means that 30 percent of the grain has leave the starch within . Generally speak- non-pasteurized sake called nama-zake is been removed . When trying premium sake, have it slightly chilled . While warm sake has its place, particularly in winter, it’s best to explore those preferences personally to see what is best for you . Three excellent examples of sake at PREMIER REALTY LTD. (2008) the LCBO are Asamai Shuzo’s beauti- fully textured Heaven’s Door Tokubetsu CHRISTOPHER LACHARITY Junmai (241752, 720ml for $29), Gekkei- SALES REPRESENTATIVE kan’s spicy, full and fruity Horin Junmai Daiginjo (603837, 300ml for $17) and Oku- 613-240-8609 nomatsu’s balanced and complex Sakura Ginjo (228684, 720ml for $38) . OFFICE: 613 567 1400 FAX: 613 567 1300 EMAIL: [email protected] Pieter Van den Weghe is the sommelier 1 RAYMOND ST. OTTAWA ON. K1R 1A2 at Beckta dining & wine .

92 WINTER 2012 | JAN-FEB-MAR destinations|DELIGHTS

It’s the perfect time to discover unforgettable Ukraine

Swallow's Nest is a decorative castle near Yalta on the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine. It was built between 1911 and 1912 in Gas- pra, on top of the 40-metre-high Aurora Cliff, by Russian architect Leonid Sherwood.

and tourists to Ukraine . The EURO 2012 entertainment for everyone . Crimea is also soccer games will be played in the fol- famous for the unforgettable scenery of its lowing four cities in Ukraine: Kyiv [Kiev], picturesque mountains overhanging the Lviv, Kharkiv and Donetsk .Once discov- Black Sea (which offers an assortment of ered, Ukraine will surely become a “hot” water sports) . travel destination for tourists . In addition to its beautiful beaches and Ukraine has a lot to offer to tourists of mountains on the Black Sea, Ukraine also all ages — historic architecture, ancient has the Carpathian Mountains . A large churches and fortresses, opera, ballet, part of this mountain range is located in classical as well as traditional folk music Western Ukraine and its numerous win- By Natalia Holub and dance, rock concerts, art galleries that ter resorts provide an excellent venue for First secretary, Embassy of Ukraine feature works by world renowned paint- sports such as skiing (both downhill and ers and sculptors, delicious food and, most cross-country), ice skating, sleigh riding, f you have never visited Ukraine, importantly, the opportunity to meet a sledding and snowboarding . you are missing a wonderful and an warm, generous, kind and friendly people . I would be remiss if I did not mention Iunforgettable experience . Although it As background, Ukraine is centrally Ukrainian traditional food . On the whole, is Europe’s largest country, Ukraine has located in Eastern Europe and borders on you will find that the food is rich, hearty yet to be discovered by tourists . This may Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Mol- and very tasty . Much of this can be at- soon change, however, as Ukraine and its dova, Russia and Belarus . The southern tributed to centuries of growing crops next-door neighbour Poland have been part of Ukraine includes the Crimean Pen- in Ukraine’s fertile soil . One thing I can chosen as joint hosts of the 2012 European insula which juts out into the Black Sea . I promise: You will never feel hungry after Football Championship (EURO 2012) . should note that the Crimea is known for eating a Ukrainian meal . By all accounts, EURO 2012 (which its beautiful beaches and palm tree-lined The two most popular and beloved runs from June 8 through July 1) is ex- streets and boardwalks . Its numerous dishes in Ukraine are borsch and varenyky . pected to attract millions of soccer fans hotels, nightclubs and restaurants offer All Ukrainians, including myself, were

diplomat and international canada 93 DELIGHTS|destinations nesener1900 G

The Odessa Opera House is one of Odessa’s prized buildings. raised on these foods . Borsch is a thick The first city, my hometown, is Kyiv, beet soup filled with chunks of meat and the capital of Ukraine . Kyiv is an ancient vegetables . Varenyky are large stuffed city founded approximately 560 AD . Leg- dumplings . They are usually filled with end has it Kyiv was founded by a Viking potatoes and smothered in fried onions family — three brothers (Kyi, Schek and and sour cream (known as smetana) . How- Koriv) and their sister Lybed . Kyiv was ever, they can also be filled with meat, named after the eldest brother Kyi . The cheese, cabbage and mushrooms . When city was situated on top of a number of served as a dessert, they are filled with hills overlooking the Dnipro River . Due apples, cherries, strawberries, poppy seeds to its strategic location, Kyiv grew into a and raisins . Other traditional Ukrainian prosperous, lively and secure trading post . foods include: holubtsi (stuffed cabbage By the 10th Century, Kyiv became one covered with a mushroom sauce or a to- of the most powerful cities in Europe . In mato sauce), salo (lard which is usually cut contrast, London at that time was half the into small strips and served with bread) size of Kyiv . In 988 AD, Prince Volodymyr and deruny (potato and mushroom pan- brought Christianity to Ukraine by baptiz- cakes) . ing his entire nation in the Dnipro River . The dishes described above can be When visiting Kyiv, a “must” visit is found in any restaurant that specializes in Kyivo-Pecherska Lavra, also known as Ukrainian food . If you are in the mood for the Monastery of the Caves . Founded ethnic dishes other than Ukrainian, in our in the 11th Century, the vast network of larger cities you can easily find restaurants underground tunnels and cells was built anske M that specialize in French, Italian, German, to house the ever-expanding number

Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Turkish of monks and disciples who spent their agnus M and many other ethnic dishes . entire lifetimes praying and writing . At Here’s a sampling of the four cities that street level, the Lavra consists of numer- Kiev is home to most of Ukraine's largest will be involved in hosting the EURO 12 ous beautiful old buildings and churches . private businesses. games . Needless to say, it is Kyiv’s No . 1 attrac-

94 WINTER 2012 | JAN-FEB-MAR destinations|DELIGHTS hkin c ykhaylo Cherni ykhaylo M

A monument to 17th-Century Ukrainian military commander Hetman Bogdan Khmelnytsky stands in front of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. tion for pilgrims, tourists and locals alike . museums and art galleries . Some of my Golden Gate of Constantinople . A bit fur- Since its founding, the Lavra has been favourites include Mystetsky Arsenal, ther beyond the gate you can get a glimpse the centre of Orthodox Christianity in a huge new museum and art gallery of the National Opera House, built in the Eastern Europe . Its numerous churches, complex which houses temporary and early 20th Century . Further still are other bell towers, and underground cave sys- permanent art exhibitions, both classical architectural treasures, such as the Kyiv tems with their narrow corridors, living and contemporary; Pinchuk Art Centre, a National University and the monument quarters and chapels, are architectural large privately owned gallery that features to the great 19th Century Ukrainian poet masterpieces . Relics of saints, preserved contemporary world-renowned artists, Taras Shevchenko in a beautiful park in the catacombs, have been drawing de- sculptors and photographers; the National across from the university . voted Christians to worship here over the Museum of Art and the National Museum Kharkiv is Ukraine’s second largest city . last 1,000 years . of Ukrainian History . It is a comparatively young city as it was There are other churches worth visit- I recommend that, on a sunny day, you only founded in 1653 . The city is known ing . St . Sophia’s Cathedral is Kyiv’s oldest visit the Museum of Folk Architecture for its achievements in science, industry, standing church . It was built in 1037 by and Life . It is an outdoor museum that art, education and technology . It should be order of Kyiv’s Grand Prince Yaroslav the contains more than 300 architecturally and noted that it has the largest student popu- Wise to thank God for protecting Kyiv culturally significant buildings . lation in Ukraine . Due to the availability of against the invasion of the Pechenegs, a If you are in the mood for walking, take technical expertise, Bill Gates sought out semi-nomadic Turkic people . The church a leisurely stroll on Andriyvsky Uzviz, a programmers in Kharkiv to develop the contains a large amount of original fres- bohemian section of Kyiv, sometimes re- Ukrainian version of Microsoft Windows . coes and well-preserved Byzantine mosa- ferred to as the “Montmartre of Kyiv ”. As Another city, unlike any other, is ics . Both St . Sophia and Kyevo-Pecherska you meander down the Andriyivsky Uz- Ukraine’s most sophisticated city, Lviv . It Lavra are UNESCO World Heritage sites . viz, you will pass antique shops, art stu- is truly European and cosmopolitan in all St . Mikhail’s Monastery of the Golden dios, galleries, theatres, small museums, aspects — music, art, history and culture . Domes was originally built in 1108-1113 hotels and cafes . It is a great place to shop Today, it is a favoured destination for and was recently reconstructed, adhering for Ukrainian crafts and art work . many Europeans and Ukrainians . Lviv’s to the Byzantine-style architecture . If you stroll along Volodymyrska Street, numerous open squares, wide boulevards If you are interested in art, be it classi- you will come upon the famous Golden and distinctive architecture are reminis- cal or contemporary, Kyiv has numerous Gate of Kyiv, which was modeled on the cent of Paris, Florence and Vienna .

diplomat and international canada 95 DELIGHTS|DESTINATIONS

10t h ANNIVERSARY SPRINGTIME IN PARIS hkin c

SATURDAY, APRIL 28, 2012 HILTON LAC-LEAMY ykhaylo Cherni ykhaylo [email protected] M SNOWFLAKEBALL.COM The Central Railway Station, also known as South Train Station, in Kharkiv, is ready for the EURO 2012.

Lviv was founded by Prince Danylo of marked the beginning of the Pope’s visit Halychyna in honour of his son, Leo . The to Ukraine in 2001), Latin Cathedral name Lviv is derived from the Slavic root (Lviv’s largest Roman Catholic church) for “lion” which is the symbol of Lviv . and others too numerous to mention . You can see statues of lions all over the UNESCO designated the entire city of city . Lviv is considered to be the keeper Lviv as a World Heritage site in 1998 . of Ukrainian culture, traditions and state- Finally, we come to Donetsk, which is sfb-diplomat_internat-en1.indd 1 02-07-12 8:32hood AM . situated in the Donbass, Ukraine’s coal Through the centuries, due to its prox- mining region . It was founded in 1869 by a imity to Western and Eastern Europe, Welsh man named John Hughes . Though Lviv grew into a wealthy, intellectual and the city is mostly known for its coal- cultural metropolis . It underwent a large mining operations, it is also known for its building boom during the 16th and 17th energy, chemical and metal production . As Centuries and was heavily influenced you can imagine, the city attracts mostly by the Italian Renaissance . As a result, business travelers . Interestingly, Donetsk Lviv has a feeling of a medieval city and has actually been recognized by UNESCO this adds to its attraction . Many tourists as the world’s cleanest industrial city . Five consider Lviv to be Ukraine’s most tourist- rivers flow through the city and the Sea of friendly town . The hotels are abundant Azov, the world’s shallowest, is only an and offer excellent accommodations in a hour away . Donbass Arena is Ukraine’s range of prices . Cafés and restaurants of- first stadium built for the European Foot- fer a wide variety of foods and are highly ball Championship 2012 in accordance service-oriented . It is no wonder that Lviv with the Five-Star (Elite) standards of the is Ukraine’s No . 1 tourist destination . Union of European Football Associations . There are, of course, churches in Lviv . If you do happen to attend the Euro They number in the hundreds and rep- 2012 games, I encourage you to return resent an unbelievable diversity of faiths and visit Ukraine’s primordial landscapes and architectural styles . Some of the more — Askania Nova, the Black Sea and the significant churches include the Armenian Carpathian Mountains and more . Cathedral (built in the 14th Century), Bernadine Cathedral (Greek Catholic Natalia Holub is the Embassy of with black and gold interior), Church of Ukraine’s first secretary (responsible for the Transfiguration (decorated with tradi- culture and information, and being a tional Ukrainian embroidery and a gold liaison with the Ukrainian community) . iconostasis — a wall of icons), St . George’s Reach her at n holub@ukremb. ca. or (613) Cathedral (Greek Catholic Church that 230-2961, ext . 105 .

96 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN DESTINATIONS|DELIGHTS

Albania’s story: sun, sea and antiquity lbanian tourism A The sights in the Valbona River Valley’s national park, on the eastern side of the Albanian Alps, are breathtaking.

If you are looking for an active holiday, path from behind the Alps . I got to know you will find plenty of places to discover: this northern-most area relatively late but mountain treks, deep valleys, national I can assure you that the pristine beauty of parks, lakes, archaeological sites, museum these places is unique . My favourite itiner- cities, castles, a marvellous coastline and ary is the Valbona River Valley . The sights much more . Located in a very important of this national park of 8,000 hectares, area of the Balkan Peninsula, facing “an- located on the eastern side of the Albanian cient Rome” and en route to Byzantium, Alps, are breathtaking and inspiring . Be- Albania’s treasures — and the remains of fore entering the Valley you will find the the region’s great civilizations — are still spring waters of Shoshan rushing through By Elida Petoshati visible today . Hellenes, Romans, Byzan- limestone fissures on the way to meet the Ambassador of Albania tines, Ottomans, Venetians and modern Valbona River . Italians have all left their mark . The castle Then you come to a chain of pictur- s a diplomat, I have had the privi- towns of Berat, Gjirokastra and Butrinti esque villages namely: Dragobia, Selimaj, lege of travelling the world, get- Park are among UNESCO’s World Heri- Rrogam with their traditional alpine-style Ating to know places, cultures and tage sites . houses where you may have the oppor- civilizations that have enriched my life . The scenery of the country is fascinat- tunity to enjoy a hospitable breather (or Albania remains my first love . Wherever I ing and complex . The sun rises from stay, for the inhabitants’ generosity and go, I always return as if for the first time, behind the majestic Alps, and sets on the hospitality are well known) . You could rel- eager discover it again and again . calm waters of Adriatic and Ionian seas . ish the characteristic regional cuisine with The country is simply beautiful . In only This sunlight paradigm becomes a symbol specialties such as mazja (a delectable cus- 28,000 square kilometres, running from of the travel through Albania . With more tard), flija (a many-layered pancake dish north to south, you can experience not only than 250 bright days a year, the country cooked outdoors over open coals, steamed Albania’s varied landscape, but also its rich could truly be called a gateway of sun . and often served with local honey) and cultural heritage and historic treasures . I invite the reader to follow the sun’s pitja (a thick cheese pie) .

diplomat and international canada 97 DELIGHTS|DESTINATIONS

A view of a church in the mountain at Berat An icon of Saint Mary, at the Onufri National Museum in Berat

A nature lover myself, I have enjoyed, tual oasis and a favourite retreat . during my leisure excursions there, the Vlora is one of the largest and most pristine plants and trees, the resplendent populous parts of Albania and home to rare colours reflected on the crystal-clear the second-largest port . It is rich in his- waters of the Valbona . On the other side of tory and antiquity and serves as the larg- the Alps, you’ll find rugged and verdant est gateway to the marvellous Albanian mountain slopes . Known for heavy snow- Riviera . fall, which starts in early November and Situated alongside the Adriatic shores lasts almost until May, the Valley and the and deep blue Ionian waters, the Gulf of park offer many outdoor activities, such as Vlora represents one of the most beautiful skiing, mountain-climbing, fishing, trek- places to explore . The Narta lagoon is rich king and canoeing along parts of the river . with hundreds of species of waterfowl The Albanian coastline remains the and is a fine fishing area . The village of real kingdom of the sun — a gorgeous Narta stands south of the lagoon, on the 450-kilometre coastline rich in sand or water’s edge, and is surrounded by low fine gravel beaches, capes, coves, covered hills covered with vineyards that produce bays, lagoons and sea caves . Along the one of the best homemade wines in Al- coast you come across towns rich in tradi- bania . My absolute favourite place is the tions and history . Shkodra boasts a Rozafa nearby island of Zvërnec, which hosts the citadel, deeply rooted in old Illyria . Lezha Byzantine-style Church and the Monas- is known for its history and rich ecosys- tery of Saint Mary .

tem . Durrës, Albania’s main seaport, has Continuing the journey south, you DREAMSTIME its own reputation as one of the oldest will see the scenic view of this part of The Zvernec Monastery Adriatic towns, established as an Illyrian Vlora Gulf . After going through a tunnel settlement 3,000 years ago . in the place known as Uji i Ftohtë (Cold Further down, in the South, you come Springs), named after a nearby mountain displaying vividly contrasting colours to Vlora, a seaport and tourist site . This stream that flows into the sea, you will between the deep blue of the sea and the is my favourite destination, not because I reach the tourist area of Jonufër, with its green lush hills, all covered in Mediter- was born there and spent my childhood chain of tiny rocky beaches famous for ranean olive groves and citrus plantations . there, but because I have spent nearly all crystal-clear waters . Beyond Jonufër lies The walk along the coast, with the breeze my vacations there . It has become a spiri- Rradhima, with its countless beaches, blowing through the olives, carrying rich

98 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN DESTINATIONS|DELIGHTS lbanian tourism A

The old town of Berati has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. DORI The magnificent Vlora coastline

perfumes, and the scent of the sea offers a Vlora Bay . rel bushes and cacti adorn the mountain- time for retreat and meditation . As a child, I loved this fairytale land- side beaches — often small sandy shores A few kilometres further south, the scape's white limestone and ruins of the beside ultramarine waters . road takes you to the small antique town ancient shrines, the sumptuous vegetation A main attraction along these shores of Orikum, one of the most important surrounding the antique Orikum amphi- is the marine cave of Haxhi Alia (a 17th- settlements of the ancient Mediterranean theatre and the wildlife . I still remember Century sailor from Ulqin) located on the world . In the ancient history, it was the the amazing decoration on the carapaces northern part of the Karaburuni Penin- main port of the Amantian tribe . This an- of the tortoises . Our family would end up sula, a genuine natural monument . There, cient town was a major stage during the at the Byzantine church of Marmiroi for a one can find purple sea corals similar only civil wars of Rome and battles between spiritual rest and cosy pilgrimage . to those of Corsica . Scuba diving here Caesar and Pompeii . During the Middle Orikum connects with the majestic would be fantastic . In fact, all of Vlora Ages, it adopted the name Jericho because Karaburun Peninsula, where the Adriatic Bay is perfect for diving . There are sunken of the Jewish community living in it and Sea meets the Ionian Sea with its gorgeous ships, including the Italian ship that sank the Vlora area . For me, Orikum carries the views, competing with the best vistas of in 1941 during the Italian-Greek war . You most spiritual experience of the region of what the Mediterranean has to offer . Lau- can also dive into the waters of Zhiron to

diplomat and international canada 99 DELIGHTS|DESTINATIONS

plantations, one finds excellent restaurants town of Saranda . Nearby lies Butrinti offering locally grown meats, fish and National Archaeological Park, a world vegetables . The smell of cooked lamb lures heritage site and the Ramsar Wetland Site the tourist into richer menus of olives, of International Importance . Butrinti Park feta cheese, wild cabbage pies (cooked in is just minutes away from the seaport special slow-coal fires) . A range of pictur- town of Saranda and is a popular one-day esque villages amidst of the orange trees excursion for tourists on the nearby Greek (such as Radhima, Tragjas and Dukat) of- island of Corfù . You will find superb fer beautiful dining places by the sea . The antique ruins and a remarkable range of wine is locally made . archaeological sites and remains from The Florida-like weather is excellent the Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Angevin, but if you like it a bit on the fresh side, Venetian and Ottoman eras . Its habitats in- you can trek the National Park of Llogara clude coastal wetlands, saltwater lagoons, nearby . The mountain peaks rise to 2,018 rivers, lakes and open grazing lands . This meters . With the breeze loaded with the unique combination of archaeology and scents of pine, wild teas and flower, it is nature creates a special remote and “un- ideal for walking, trekking or just relaxing . discovered” atmosphere found at no other If you get hungry after walking, gliding or significant archaeological site along the biking, you can enjoy lamb roasted on the Mediterranean . spit or barbecued, lamb and goat cheese Albania is also a cradle of cultural dishes and desserts made of nuts, honey diversity . Before I was appointed as am- DREAMSTIME and very thick yogurt made of sheep milk . bassador to Canada, I had the privilege Ruins at Butrint National Archeological Driving downhill southward from the of serving as general secretary of the Park Llogara Pass, the winding road unfolds UNESCO National Commission . Part of into the magnificent vista of the Ionian the function was to contact and visit the observe the green and black algae . Sea below . Again, you will visit villages towns of Gjirokastra and Berat, already A vacation in the Vlora area would along the shores; again you will experi- part of UNESCO’s World Inventory of be incomplete if we do not add the local ence the warm hospitality of friendly Historical Heritage . It is a pleasant coin- tastes and flavours . The food is unique . people . Crystalline beaches extend to the cidence that the town of Berat was regis- Along with the olive groves and citrus southern-most (and beautiful) Albanian tered as such in the summer of 2008, in Quebec . Both these sites bear remarkable witness the harmony and peaceful co- existence among Albanians of different re- ligions, gathered from centuries of history . You will want to visit the southern town of Gjirokastra . The greatest Alba- nian writer, Ismail Kadare, glorified this legendary stone town in his book Kronikë në gur (Stone Chronicles) . Here, you will experience the warm character of the people and enjoy the medieval architecture of the houses, along with the town’s Ottoman bazaar, ancient fortress and steep cobblestone streets, which form a dramatic urban landscape . These complexes are, for the most part, undisturbed by 20th- Offering Exclusive Century buildings . The historic town of Rates For Diplomat- s Berat, 120 kilometres south of Tirana, with more than 2,400 years of history is another jewel of Albanian civilization and culture . At Accu-Rate Corporation our For your personal With its houses built along the steep hills, team of highly experienced currency consultation please call: the so-called city of the floating windows traders and foreign banking partners Marie Boivin is towered over by the majestic citadel, Managing Director allow us to negotiate currency prices housing the most attractive churches and lower than any other currency dealer 613-596-5505 ext. 101 [email protected] mosques of Albania . As a group, they are a or commercial institution. testament to Albania’s history of tolerance and peaceful co-existence over centuries .

Accu-Rate Corporation World Exchange Plaza Elida Petoshati is Ambassador of Albania Accu-Rate Corporation 2573 Carling Ave. 111 Albert St. to Canada . Reach her at (613) 667-9667 or Foreign Exchange & International Payment Services Elida .Petoshati@mfa .gov .al www.accu-rate.ca (613) 596-5505 (613) 238-8454

100 Spring 2012 | APR-MAY-JUN

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