WHAT WILL PUTIN DO NEXT and WHAT Changes Will Trump’S Victory Bring?

Adrift: The UN needs a principled, resolute hand at the tiller

SPRING 17 | APR–JUN

Facing Russia WHAT WILL PUTIN DO NEXT AND WHAT Changes will Trump’s victory bring?

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Volume 28, Number 2 PUBLISHER Donna Jacobs PUBLISHER IN MEMORIAM Neil Reynolds Table of EDITOR Jennifer Campbell ART DIRECTOR Paul Cavanaugh CONTENTS BOOKS EDITOR George Fetherling CULTURE COLUMNIST DIPLOMATICA| Margo Roston FOOD COLUMNIST Cartoons from around the world ...... 14 Margaret Dickenson Fen Hampson: The UN, an organization adrift ...... 18 STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Questions Asked: MP Andrew Leslie on Canada-U .S . relations . . . 20 Ülle Baum Good Deeds: 75 diplomatic missions host free parties in 2017 . . . . 26 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Denise Amyot Notes from the field: Children's Bridge Foundation goes global . . . 28 Sue Christie Diplomatic Agenda: Iraq's ambassador on his time in Abu Ghraib . . 30 Wolfgang Depner Trade winds: Latvia, India and Chile's envoys talk trade ...... 32 Andrej Droba Karlis Eihenbaums Robert D'A . Henderson Fen Hampson DISPATCHES| Pierre Jolicoeur Russia on the move: A closer look at Russia in the Trump era Abdul Kareem Kaab Russia's military might and how Putin will use it ...... 36 Patrick Langston Alejandro Marisio Trump and Putin: An unlikely and troubling alliance ...... 40 Jeremy Paltiel Canada and Russia: Why Canada should repair relations ...... 42 Paul Robinson China and Russia: Strategic partners that aren't allies ...... 45 Robert I . Rotberg Stephen M . Saideman The shaky Russian economy: Assessing the crises ...... 47 Arun Kumar Sahu Education: The Top-10 performers Joanne Schnurr What the PISA results say about global education systems . . . . . 53 Pieter Van den Weghe Mikhail Zherebtsov PISA by the numbers ...... 62 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Colleges and Institutes Canada: Doing its part around the world . . 63 Ülle Baum Ashley Fraser Mike Beedell Sam Garcia MCpl . V . Carbonneau Sgt . Johanie Maheu Taiwan's quest for recognition in global organizations ...... 64 Jana Chytilova Lois Siegel Africa: Why some Africans continue to kill each other ...... 68 Larry Dickenson Business Management Jessie Reynolds O’Neil DELIGHTS| WEBMASTER Books: On Shanghai in the ’30s and jailed journalists ...... 72 Gilles Laberge, www .redrocket .ca Distribution Entertaining: Madagascar's marvellous morsels ...... 76 Pierre Pagé and Peixian Han Wine: Building your own wine cellar ...... 80 OFFICE LIAISON Residences: Pakistan's home away from home ...... 82 Sharleen Tattersfield ADVERTISING INQUIRIES New arrivals: Austria, Brazil, China, India, Israel and Vietnam . . . 90 Contact Donna Jacobs, donnajacobs@gmail .com Envoy's album: Photos from the diplomatic scene ...... 92 SUBSCRIPTIONS: Diplomat & International Canada National Days: A listing of national days for April-June ...... 106 is published four times a year . Rates: one year $39 .80 . For Cdn . orders, add 13% HST . U .S . orders, Photo Finish: Mike Beedell's southern elephant seal pups photo . . 108 add $15 for postage . All others, add $25 . SUBMISSIONS: Diplomat & International Canada DIPLOMATIC LISTINGS ...... 98 welcomes submissions . Contact Jennifer Campbell at editor@diplomatonline .com or (613) 231-8476 . PRINTER: The Lowe-Martin Group destinations| DIPLOMAT & INTERNATIONAL CANADA A guided tour of Slovakia, a European gem ...... 102 P .O Box 1173, Station B Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1P 5R2 Cover photo: © Frédéric Legrand | Dreamstime.com Phone: (613) 422-5262 E-mail: info@diplomatonline .com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED . The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material . www.diplomatonline.com No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the pub- Published by Sparrow House lisher . © 2007 ISSN 1190-8343 Publication Mail # 40957514 . Return undeliverable Canadian copies to: Enterprises Inc . Diplomat Magazine, P .O . Box 1173, Station B, Ottawa, ON K1P 5R2 The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors.

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gang Depner examines the question of global education and looks at the OEDC’s CONTRIBUTORS very own global grading system . He brings analysis of the Top-10 performers in Jeremy Paltiel this world race for the best and brightest and assesses the laggards . Canada finds itself among the Top 10 . Jennifer We also have a story on Taiwan and Campbell its continuing bid for a spot at the table of various international organizations, Russia: What you need to know including the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Orga- hen Donald J . Trump became nization . Under President Ma Ying-jeou, the 45th president of the United Taiwan made some headway, but now Jeremy Paltiel is professor of political WStates, many things came im- that it has elected Tsai Ing-wen, that head- science at Carleton University and mediately to Canadians' minds, not least way appears to be disappearing . was visiting professor of interna- of which was the future of the world's Africa columnist Robert I . Rotberg of- tional relations at Tsinghua Univer- largest trading partnership . But not far be- fers a disturbing look at the genocidal kill- sity in Beijing in 2009 . He previously hind that — for some, at least — was what ing fields of Africa . taught at the University of Alberta his victory would mean for world order, Up front, columnist Fen Hampson (1984-1990), the University of Ari- and, in particular, what it would mean for compares the United Nations to a “super- zona (1983-84), and the University of Russia's place in the world . tanker” dangerously adrift and calls on California at San Diego (1981-83) . He To that end, Diplomat put together a newly appointed Secretary General Anto- received his BA from the University panel of Russia experts, each of whom nio Guterres to straighten its course . Also of Toronto in 1974, a diploma in wrote on his specialty area . Pierre Joli- up front is my interview with MP Andrew philosophy from Beijing University coeur, who teaches political science at the Leslie, who has been named a parliamen- in 1976 and his MA (1979) and PhD Royal Military College in Kingston, wrote tary secretary to Foreign Minister Chrystia (1984) in political science from the about Russian foreign policy and defence . Freeland . His responsibilities in that job University of California, Berkeley . In He notes that apart from its military, Rus- focus squarely on the Canada-U .S . rela- 2016, he published, with Huhua Cao, sia is a weak world power . tionship, one he says Canada can't afford Facing China as a New Global Super- Carleton University professor Stephen to take for granted . power: Domestic and International Dy- Saideman wrote on the relationship In our Delights section, books editor namics from a Multidisciplinary Angle, between Trump and Russian President George Fetherling writes about Shanghai published by Springer . Vladimir Putin . He notes that, by far, the in the 1930s, and examines several titles on biggest change in U .S . foreign policy will jailed journalists, a troubling global trend . Stephen M. Saideman be Trump's rapprochement with Putin . In her food column, Margaret Dickenson Carleton University China specialist dips her fork into the culinary temptations Jeremy Paltiel writes about the China- of Madagascar, while Patrick Langston Russia relationship, noting that the two takes a tour of the residence of Pakistani countries are “joined in deep suspicion High Commissioner Tariq Azim Khan . In and active rejection of the global liberal the back of the magazine, we have a travel hegemony led by the U S. . and supported feature on Slovakia, by Slovakian Ambas- by Europe and America's allies .” sador Andrej Droba . Mikhail Zherebtsov, a postdoctoral fel- In New Arrivals, we welcome heads of low at Carleton University, writes about mission from Austria, Brazil, China, India, Stephen Saideman holds the Pater- Russia’s economic crises and what role Israel and Vietnam . And on a sadder note, son Chair in International Affairs at global sanctions are playing . the new envoy from Morocco, Moham- Carleton University’s Norman Pat- And finally, University of Ottawa med Lotfi Aouad, died earlier this year, erson School of International Affairs . professor Paul Robinson writes about just weeks after presenting his credentials He has written The Ties That Divide: Canada-Russia relations and how Cana- at Rideau Hall . Our condolences to his col- Ethnic Politics, Foreign Policy and dian officials could consider attempting to leagues and family . International Conflict; For Kin or Coun- repair them . try: Xenophobia, Nationalism and War Further in our Dispatches section, Wolf- Jennifer Campbell is editor of Diplomat . (with R . William Ayres); NATO in Afghanistan: Fighting Together, Fighting Alone (with David Auerswald); and UP FRONT Adapting in the Dust: Lessons Learned Russia is much in the news these days, particularly from Canada’s War in Afghanistan, as since the election of U S. . President Donald Trump . well as articles on nationalism, ethnic Our cover package, written by several well-known conflict, civil war and civil-military Russian scholars, examines Russia's foreign policy, relations . He blogs at saideman . defence, economy, its relationship with China and blogspot .com and tweets too much at Trump's relationship with Putin . The package starts @smsaideman . on page 36 .

12 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN diplomat and international canada 13 DIPLOMATICA|CARTOONS Political commentary from around the world

Crafting a Replacement for Obamacare by Daryl Cagle, CagleCartoons.com

Kim and Nuclear Bomb, Watched by Riber Hansson, Trump on China Policy by Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE Sydsvenskan, Sweden

14 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN CARTOONS|DIPLOMATICA

Endangered Republic by Taylor Jones, Hi-tech Repression in China by Taylor Jones, Hoover Digest, U.S. Politicalcartoons.com, U.S.

Erdogan and Europe by Patrick Chappatte, The International New York Times, U.S.

diplomat and international canada 15 DIPLOMATICA|CARTOONS Courtesy of Caglecartoons.com

Russia, Past and Present by Gatis Sluka, Latvijas Avize, Latvia Russia, Past and Present by Gatis Sluka, Latvijas Avize, Latvia

South Sudan Grips by Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE Turkey’s Political Way by Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE

Christians Flee Sinai by Emad Hajjaj, Jordan

16 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN CARTOONS|DIPLOMATICA

Assad Regime by Emad Hajjah, Jordan

The Ongoing War by Emad Hajjah, Jordan

War & Famine by Osama Hajjaj, Jordan

diplomat and international canada 17 RedRocketAdoutilines.indd 1 12/4/2013 12:37:11 PM DIPLOMATICA|The united nations A UN supertanker dangerously adrift

U.S. President Donald Trump is no fan of the United Nations, whose New York headquarters are pictured here.

Those Republicans who don’t want displaced . It is the biggest mass exodus to go that far still want to cut the size of of refugees since the Second World War . the U .S . contribution or make it volun- Syria burns while the UN fiddles . tary . The U .S . pays almost one quarter of The UN’s peacekeeping reputation the UN’s total regular budget, which, in has also taken a hit . UN peacekeepers in 2016-17, amounts to $5 .6 billion US . (Can- Congo and the Central African Republic ada’s contribution, in contrast, is about have been implicated in the widespread Fen Hampson three per cent) . Any of the reductions sexual abuse and exploitation of minors . being contemplated will have a major im- UN peacekeepers from Nepal were ap- pact on the organization’s operations . parently responsible for a major cholera ike a giant supertanker foundering Trump has also threatened to withdraw epidemic in Haiti, which led to the death in stormy seas off a rocky coast, the the United States from various UN treaties of many civilians . LUnited Nations requires a strong, and conventions, including the recently Last year, former UN assistant secre- firm hand at the tiller, someone who can concluded Paris agreement on climate tary general Anthony Banbury (who was steer the ship away from the perilous change . Even if he doesn’t actually for- responsible for overseeing the UN’s ef- course on which it is now headed . mally withdraw the United States from forts to deal with the outbreak of Ebola in The new occupant of the White House, these conventions, there is still a good Africa) published a scathing indictment of Donald Trump, is no fan of the organiza- chance he still may not honor the U .S .’s the organization in the New York Times . He tion, describing it in one of his tweets as commitments . accused the organization of “colossal mis- “just a club for people to get together, talk But it is not just the Trump adminis- management” and blamed it for shoddy and have a good time .” tration threatening the effectiveness and hiring practices, excessive red tape and de- The new Republican-dominated U .S . future of the UN . Relations in the Secu- cisions made on the basis of political expe- Congress doesn’t much like the UN either . rity Council among the five permanent diency . Banbury admitted he was clearly Some Republicans want to eliminate fund- members have been dysfunctional on vital not the first person to point out the UN’s ing for the organization entirely because issues of global peace and security for failings, “but too often, these criticisms they are rankled by the recent UN Security much of this decade . Russia and the west- come from people who think the United Council vote that condemned Israel for ern powers, for example, are deadlocked Nations is doomed to fail . I come at it from building settlements on the West Bank and over how to deal with the ongoing crisis a different angle,” he said, “I believe that, in East Jerusalem — a resolution on which in Syria . Hundreds of thousands of Syr- for the world’s sake, we must make the the outgoing Obama administration chose ians have lost their lives in the country’s United Nations succeed .”

to abstain rather than veto . brutal civil war . Millions more have been That challenge now falls squarely on U N P hoto

18 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN The united nations|DIPLOMATICA

the shoulders of the former prime min- devotee of realpolitik to appreciate the toes should be abandoned in favour of a ister of Portugal, Antonio Guterres, who UN’s limitations . Major bodies of the UN super-majority plurality . became the ninth secretary general of the and the UN Security Council, which are Japan, Germany, India and Brazil United Nations at the beginning of this supposed to stand at the apex of the global should also become permanent members year, replacing Ban Ki-moon, who had security system, are failing to meet the test of the Security Council . These countries been in the post for 10 years . on the most critical problems of global se- are simply too big and too influential Guterres is no stranger to the UN . He curity . Secretary General Guterres says the to be excluded . Japan and Germany, in served as UN High Commissioner for challenge now “is to make corresponding particular, are also major contributors to Refugees from 2005 to 2015 and from all changes” to the UN’s “culture, strategy, the UN’s operations and budget . There reports did a credible job . The only blem- structure and operations .” should also be proper representation for ish on his record was a highly critical in- At the top of his list should be reform those countries that do the heavy lifting in ternal UN audit report about the way the of the Security Council, which is long peacekeeping operations and the work of organization managed its finances . overdue . For more than two decades, the the UN’s specialized agencies . Unlike his predecessor, Guterres is open-ended working group on Security Guterres will have to be bold and tough known to be outgoing and a good com- Council reform has met to review and if he is going to succeed . What the UN municator . In his first address to the mem- discuss different proposals, but there has needs is heavy doses of tough love . But bers of the Security Council, he talked been only one successful reform of the that is a tall order and it is also going to about the importance of preventing global membership . That was during the height have to be directed at the organization’s of the Cold War in 1965 when non-per- member states, which are ultimately re- manent membership was increased from sponsible for many of those very deficien- six to 10 members . Britain and France, cies and failings that have so enfeebled which are both European members and the UN . nuclear powers, wield a veto in the council . Some believe that Europe should only Fen Osler Hampson is co-director of the have one seat, but if Britain leaves Europe, Global Commission on Internet Gover- that argument may be less tenable . It is nance . He is a distinguished fellow and also highly questionable whether Russia, director of the Global Security & Politics and indeed China, should be allowed to Program at the Centre for International exercise a veto, especially in light of their Governance Innovation . He's also Chan- recent performance on Syria . Perhaps ve- cellor’s Professor at Carleton University .

The job of reinvigorating the UN falls squarely on the shoulders of new Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

crises instead of the UN’s usual default mode, which is to “respond” to them . “We must rebalance our approach to peace and security,” he urged . “For the future, we SHE IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY TOO. need to do far more to prevent war and sustain peace .” This is not the first time a UN secretary We are experts in how Elmwood School puts families ﬁ rst too. Come learn more general has stressed the importance of about everything we can oﬀ er you and your daughter. conflict prevention . It is an all-too-familiar girls learn, grow and · Unparalleled academic program refrain . Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who succeed. Like you, our · All three levels of the International served as secretary general in the early Baccalaureate Programme goal is to make sure · Before- and a er-school programming, including 1990s, urged the same in his much-touted homework supervision Agenda for Peace . So, too, did Kofi Annan, your daughter reaches · Transportation who tried to develop an institutional her full potential. · Healthy meals prepared on-site “culture of prevention” in the UN . Alas, · Individualized support from our Student Success Centre · Wide range of co-curricular programs, including there has been little in the way of effective music, dance, athletics and more. conflict prevention and the UN is still very much in firefighting mode on those occa- Come see for yourself. Call (613) 744-7783 or sions (increasingly rare) when it decides Inspiring girls visit info.elmwood.ca/elmwood-tour to book your private tour. to act .

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diplomat and international canada 19 DIPLOMATICA|Questions Asked

Andrew Leslie: Parliamentary secretary, Canada-U.S. relations ‘Friendships need work; let’s not take [the U.S.] for granted’

Photos by Jana Chytilova

In 2011, Andrew Leslie retired from the Starting at the top, you’ve got the prime Canadian Forces as a lieutenant-general. He minister, who is and has always been had served as chief of land forces and also actively engaged on the file, but now as chief of transformation. He retired on a more so than ever . You have Marc Gar- Friday after 35 years in uniform, and start- neau, who is chairing the Canada-U .S . ed working for a large corporation the committee . You have heavy-hitters from following Monday. It wasn’t for him, the Prime Minister’s Office being repo- though, he says, and nor was con- sitioned into the chief-of-staff role and sulting. Instead, he found his sec- others in Global Affairs . ond career by knocking on doors You have Chrystia Freeland replac- in his Ottawa neighbourhood of ing Stéphane Dion as minister of foreign Orléans and was first elected to affairs, and she has unbelievable U .S . parliament in October 2015. He contacts because of her former journalistic was soon named whip and, after the career . And, much more modestly, you election of U.S. President Donald Trump, he have people like myself, who have a vari- was named parliamentary secretary to the ety of contacts in the U .S . based on many foreign minister. His responsibilities focus years’ experience of travelling to Washing- on the Canada-U.S. relationship. ton to help resolve a variety of issues that The tireless politician met with we were dealing with . In my time, it was Diplomat’s editor, Jennifer Campbell, in late mainly the Afghan war, but not solely; I January, just after accepting his newest also had a lot of dealings at the time of the position. He gave this interview at the end Yugoslavia operations . of a long day that started with a 30-minute run and about 25 minutes of weight train- DM: When Freeland was named foreign ing, something he tries to do every day and minister, there was a kind of “in brack- succeeds in doing five to six times a week. ets” part of her title that said she will remain responsible for the Canada-U .S . Diplomat magazine: Just yesterday [Janu- trade file (given that her former position ary 30], you formally took your post as was as minister of international trade) . parliamentary secretary (Canada-U .S . Will that part of her job fall to you? Relations) to Foreign Minister Chrystia AL: No, that stays very much within her Freeland . immediate portfolio . There’s only one Andrew Leslie: Technically, yes, but actu- minister . The parliamentary secretary, ally, the prime minister asked me to do though I represent the minister in her ab- this a week ago . sence and I can articulate the position of the government, I’m by definition not a DM: And that’s why you ended up at minister, so she has the executive author- the Trump presidential inauguration in ity for that, subject to the will of cabinet . Washington? We’ll both sit on the cabinet committee AL: Yes, and right from there to the cabi- for Canada-U .S . relations, but that’s more net retreat in Calgary . an advisory group that then reports to the full cabinet committee . I’m not part of DM: This [Canada-U .S . relations] is an the latter, unless invited . I have the same unusual new area of concentration for a status as I did as a whip . I’m a member of parliamentary secretary at Global Affairs the Privy Council, but [I] don’t go to cabi- Canada . How important is it? net meetings unless [I'm] invited . I was AL: It is important, and it’s not com- rarely invited to cabinet as a whip . pletely unprecedented because my very good friend, Scott Brison, did exactly the DM: It’s been reported that you’ve been same job about 13 years ago . The whole given this job because of the appoint- idea is to reposition assets, in this case, ments of Gen . James Mattis as defense people, to better facilitate a good, clean secretary and Gen . Mike Flynn [who has dialogue with the Trump administration . since resigned] as national security ad-

20 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Questions Asked|DIPLOMATICA

viser . Is that so? he’s had to talk to large numbers of AL: Those may have been triggers . Hav- troops who are about to go and do very ing spent some time on the phone with unpleasant things and there’s a certain former colleagues in Washington, namely tone of voice and motivational way of army buddies, and having been there for talking . And apparently, there was a jour- a while over the last week or two, there nalist one day… and the nickname stuck . are literally thousands of positions that President Trump’s administration is go- DM: And how do you expect this admin- ing to have to fill . [These are the positions istration will change foreign and defence of] political appointees who, by tradition, policy from the Obama administration? submit their resignations on the 20th of AL: It’s too early to say . There’s a lot of January . So they’re going to have to fill opinion out there and there always is in those positions and the indicators are that a period of transition . Opinion leads to a lot of military folk will be competing uncertainty and uncertainty can lead to for them, and may be selected . The prime tension because people aren’t sure what’s minister thought I could be of use there . about to happen and that, in turn, gets And he also needed someone to help co- people talking and then rumours sweep ordinate the flow of rekindling the flame through social media at the speed of light . between friends . Friendships need work . The simple answer is I don’t know . I’ve Let’s not take it for granted — especially U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis read two of President Trump’s principal not now . books and I’ve seen the manifesto that he published about 45 days before the DM: How was being at the inauguration? were a significant number of people in election and so far, nothing he has done AL: I started the morning down on the uniform — air force, army, navy . I didn’t is a surprise in terms of what he said he grass in front of the Capitol Building . see any coast guards, but I saw marines . would do . I think how it’s been done is That was fun and there was lots of en- People whose family members had mar- a bit… innovative . But we just have to ergy . There were some differences of ried Canadians — that sort of stuff . It was maintain the dialogue . Let’s never forget opinion . I went to the [Canadian] em- all very friendly . they’re our closest friend and ally, there bassy by 10:30 a .m . and that was equally are millions of Canadians who’ve married interesting because the ambassador and DM: Do you have any sense of why they Americans and vice-versa . About a fifth the team there did a magnificent job of call James Mattis “Mad Dog Mattis”? of my family, maybe even a quarter, is hosting thousands of people . I’d say two AL: He hates that . Well, ‘hates’ is too down in the States as Americans . thirds of the crowd was American and strong a word, he dislikes it, I’m told . I The relationship is going to need more the rest were Canadians who worked or don’t know that for a fact because I’ve work and the more people you know in lived in the area or who just came down never actually discussed it with him . He times of uncertainty, the more clarity you for the inauguration . is an extraordinarily bright, thoughtful, can get .

U.S. political appointments: ”The jungle drums Trump’s view of Canada: ”I think we're on his The state of the Canada-U.S. relationship: are alive and well.” radar, but what size blip we are, I don't know." ”Strong. They're still our closest friend and ally.”

DM: Who were the Americans in atten- articulate warrior scholar and he is very Last weekend, there was the issue of y photo . E k lu nd U. S N av dance? Why were they there? much a field officer and very much a the [travel] ban list [preventing travellers AL: w n P Some had business interests in Can- counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist from seven Muslim countries from enter-

S ha ada, some were friends of Canada . There theorist . But like any field commander, ing the U .S .] Was that going to impact

diplomat and international canada 21 DIPLOMATICA|QUESTIONS Asked

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Canadian, American, and Latvian vehicle technicians practise their recovery drills in Latvia. Canada has troops on the ground there as part of an allied operation.

Canadians? We didn’t know, but based on This period of uncertainty around a patient, diligent work over the past couple transition is natural, perhaps now more so of months, senior officials in the Prime than in other times that I can think of, but Minister’s Office were able to call their that just means we’ve got to do more . For Sale $1,250,000. opposite members in the White House . Our national security adviser called their DM: Is Canada even on Trump’s radar? national security adviser . Our ambassador AL: I think we’re on his radar, but what got a hold of senior members of the State size of blip we are, I don’t know . I think Department . And very quickly, we had a he’s mainly focused south of his border, clear answer that Canadians were not af- mostly because of the trade imbalance fected . That speaks to the relationship, the that exists between the U .S . and Mexico . contacts and the good work that’s already Mexico sells far more to the U .S . than G207-700 SUSSEX DR. happened . vice-versa, whereas we’re actually the other way around, though that fluctuates . For Sale $918,700. DM: Did you meet Mattis in your previous military life? Can you share some anec- DM: Do we want to be on his radar? I dotes about time you’ve spent with him? interviewed Howard Dean about a week AL: I’ve met him . I don’t know him as after the election and he told me: ‘You well as I know Shawn [points to his assis- Canadians always complain that you’re tant, Shawn Kalbhenn] but I’ve met him . not on the U .S .’s radar . I suggest you just Our paths have crossed over the years . I stay there and enjoy it .’ didn’t see him during the inauguration AL: [Laughs .] I know we’re on [Trump's] because he was… kind of busy . radar . He and the prime minister have 1672 RHODES CRT. I’m not alone in this [job] . We have spoken several times [and since this inter- 9 MURRAY ST, OTTAWA ON K1N 9M5 other parliamentarians — multiple dozens view, they’ve met in person at the White [email protected] — who have strong contacts in the States House] . And when we were at the cabinet OFFICE: 613-744-5525 and someone’s going to have to try to co- retreat, days after his inauguration, Steve ordinate our efforts and that’s part of what Schwartzman, who is the president of his DIONNE CALDWELL C: 613-277-7508 BROKER OF RECORD my remit will be . economic advisory council and a multi- [email protected] billionaire himself, came out and spent a DM: BILL WELSH C: 613-816-1144 Generally, how do you see the cur- whole day with us . He’s a busy guy, plus PROPERTY MANAGER rent state of Canada-U .S . relations? he has a huge series of companies to run [email protected] AL: Strong . They’re still our closest friend on his own . What was interesting was MARY LOU MARTIN-GERHARDS and ally . We still have integrated econo- that, of the 50 or 60 people in the room, mies . Canadians have millions of friends he probably already knew a dozen, so Visit www.caldwell-realty.ca for down there and vice-versa . We in Canada we’re certainly known . a full list of available properties. think a lot more about the States than Being the president of the United States Follow us on they think about us — it’s simply a mat- though — I can only imagine how busy ter of scale . But [the relationship] is not that is . And the president’s time is proba-

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22 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN QUESTIONS Asked|DIPLOMATICA the more time you’re on their radar, that’s mean? That’s where personal contacts are The third is to continue to represent my not necessarily [what you want .] key because you can try to extract those constituents . They’re well informed, well details and you can help shape them in educated, they’ve got lots of good ideas DM: How do you see the U .S .’s inward- a way that’s more logical for our values and they’ve got lots of friends in the U .S . looking economic protectionism and and interests . seeming domestic preoccupation, as DM: What members of the Trump admin- opposed to its role as world police, jiv- DM: I know you have other responsibili- istration have you met? ing with Trump’s promise to rebuild its ties, but speaking strictly about this new AL: I’ve not been in the White House military? Canada-U .S . mission, what three areas since president George Bush . The key is AL: A variety of equipment that the U .S . will you make your priorities? to remember that proportionally, a tiny armed forces have has been very hard AL: First, to facilitate the dialogue, keep- percentage of Trump’s team is actually in used in, quite frankly, 25 to 28 years of ing in mind that I’m not responsible for political office . We’ve already mentioned continuous warfare . Most important, a being the voice . The principal voice is the thousands of political appointments lot of the troops are in danger of being the prime minister of Canada, followed he has to make . I know a number of peo- exhausted by continual deployments . In by the minister of global affairs and I’m ple who claim they’re about to get offered some cases, it’s generational . We have there to help them . We’re also going to be a job . We’ll see . But the jungle drums are mothers whose sons are deploying to the reaching out, not only to parliamentar- alive and well . same region where those women first de- ians . I’ve already spoken to the Canadian ployed . Iraq is one, but there are others, Chamber of Commerce and I will be DM: Trump, on the one hand, recently such as Afghanistan . The U .S . has [hun- speaking to the Council of Chief Execu- told British Prime Minister Theresa May dreds of thousands of] troops deployed tive Officers, and the list goes on . that he’s “100 per cent behind NATO,” internationally and though they may not Second, though it may not please ev- but he’s also called the organization ob- all be in active combat, they’re still away erybody, part of my role is to live by the solete . He has, however, been consistent from home, there’s training cycles you go mantra of keep calm and carry on . Let’s on one thing: That he will insist that allies through and the list goes on . wait for some facts to emerge before we pony up more money as a percentage of But [on military rebuilding], there’s react . I don’t want to give the impression GDP on military spending . We are 23rd no detail . So obviously, we’re going to we’re not doing contingency planning, out of 28 NATO countries, so we’re on stand by our principles and defend our but in times of uncertainty, it doesn’t take the black list at the moment . How will interests . First, we try to understand much to cause destabilization . We don’t Canada respond to that? what surrounds a variety of statements . want to underreact and we don’t want to AL: You’re quite right . He said both those What’s the detail, what does it actually overreact . things and he’s also said he sees the

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diplomat and international canada 23 DIPLOMATICA| QUESTIONS Asked

play a role in our favour — whether it’s Latvia or elsewhere . And, of course, we’ve got a mission pending and our minister of national defence and our minister of global affairs will be discussing that possible deployment with their American counterparts, like we always do . When I was commander of the army, there were many times I was down in Washington and I’d be briefed as to where the U .S . army would be sending a battalion or brigade . They would always do us the courtesy of informing us so we could figure out what it meant and maybe they wanted us to consider sending some people along .

DM: With respect to Canada rebuilding its military, in your transformation position, you were critical of bloated bureaucracy and cost overruns . Lt.-Gen. (ret'd) Andrew Leslie served in the Canadian Forces for 35 years, including in the former AL: I stand by that . It wasn’t terribly Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. popular, but it had to be done .

enormous value of NATO . He has said DM: But what about spending with re- DM: Given that, how should Canada go he wants to see nations do more, and do spect to NATO commitments? about rebuilding? their fair share . One subtle differentia- AL: We’ll see . That’s out there, but there’s AL: The big priority is the navy and our tor that our country has as compared to no detail . You need technical experts and navy is in a state of emergency . It has many is that we’ve been alongside the those will show up in due course . been that way for five or six years . The Americans through thick and thin . We good news is, we’re getting close to go outside the wire . We fight when we DM: My understanding is that there are further definition of the way ahead to have to . We fight hard, we’ve suffered ca- different ways to count the money . For replace the supply ships — we’re leas- sualties, we’ve shared spilled blood and example, some countries count the pening them from other countries right now that’s true for our air, land, sea and spe- sions of their military personnel as part of — and our surface combatants . Work is cial forces . So, unlike some other NATO their defence spending . Others don’t . already under way for the coastal patrol members, we have a very good reputa- AL: There are different ways to count the vessels and the Arctic patrol, but the big tion with the Americans and we train money . And that’s why we need technical crisis is the navy . That’s where most of with them just about all the time . experts . I know enough about the subject our time and effort should go . There’s al- Right now, there are probably close to know that if you and I were represent- ways stuff for the army and the air force, to 500 Canadian armed forces personnel ing different countries and I wanted to of course, but I think the CF-18 interim who are stationed in the U .S . The army make our numbers look bigger, I could . Hornet [Canadian fighter aircraft] buy sends hundreds, if not thousands, of That’s why we need these people with is a good plan [because] it stabilizes the troops down there; the same is true of the really big brains with lots of experience to capability again . Now, it’s all hands on air force and the navy . Our ships interact sit down and figure it out . deck for the navy . with their carrier battle groups and our air crews train in the U .S . and the Ameri- DM: Will our troop commitment in Latvia DM: Can you briefly discuss one lesson cans come up to Cold Lake — I think our play in our favour? that you learned when you were with the AFO pub-April 2017.pdf 1 23/03/2017 4:32:02 PM troops get the better end of that deal . AL: I think having troops anywhere will military, maybe the former Yugoslavia,

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24 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN QUESTIONS Asked|DIPLOMATICA or Afghanistan [to which Leslie returns AL: I did my 35 years . I left on a Friday trying to achieve? I happen to know three times a year for a couple of weeks and started Monday with a big corpora- the phone lines have been burning up at a time]? tion . It wasn’t really me, though . And I between Ottawa and Washington . We’re AL: One thing that I’ve learned — and really got intrigued by what I saw hap- trying to keep it at as low a level as possi- by the way, it’s not always popular — is pening with Mr . Trudeau — then the ble . We’re trying to see what it means for, when you’ve got to move fast, move re- leader of the third party — and his team . say, person A in country B with category ally fast . But if you don’t have to actually I dabbled in consulting, but my heart C whose child is ill — you see where I’m move fast, then just take a second, pause, wasn’t in it and then I started knocking going? In some cases, those haven’t been figure out what the facts are, come up on doors . I did that for almost two years . thought through, because the staff isn’t with a plan that has some options, and And here we are now . In the whip’s job, I there yet to be able to establish that dia- then start to move . When the results of a learned a great deal . I had a great team . logue . So we’re not sure, but we do know decision are not based on facts, you cause My role was to keep calm and carry on . that Canadians are not affected in the chaos and confusion with the troops . I’m They’re all high energy, they’re all very main . It’s those exceptions where the cir- by no means a procrastinator — trust me, smart, they’re all driven . They’re all cumstances aren’t normal that everyone’s I’m not — but you should take the time really passionate about their constitu- still scratching their heads about it . you have to work out a plan . ency and they all want to do their own The second lesson is that trying to settle thing . So it was 184 people . They’re all DM: Canada has volunteered to take things between friends is so much easier fast-movers and it wasn’t my job to slow people caught in limbo . How many than trying to bellow at each other from them down, it was just my job to help headaches does that cause you in this the rooftops . them succeed . job? AL: Well, I think what the prime minis- DM: So you’d rather have this job than DM: No speed limits at all? ter’s done is wise in that he hasn’t said Canada-Russia relations? AL: Maybe a couple . anything for or against any other coun- AL: [Laughs] Ouch! I’m not going to try . He’s said ‘Here’s what we’re doing .’ touch that . Good try, though . DM: Last weekend, U .S . President Trump We’re staying true to our values and our issued a ban on people from seven pre- principles without shouting from the DM: What’s it like to move from the mili- dominately Muslim countries entering rooftops or getting into unpleasantness . tary, to a brief flirtation with consulting, the U .S . There are some Canadians in It’s a very Canadian way . It’s kind of like and then to the fast-paced job of parlia- limbo . What’s happening with them? when we deploy . We don’t say ‘They’re mentary whip to the now even faster- AL: Remember how I said it’s sometimes doing it wrong’ or ‘We’re doing it right,’ paced job of Canada-U .S . relations? wise to think through what it is you’re we say ‘Here’s what we’re doing .’ D

diplomat and international canada 25 DIPLOMATICA|GOOD DEEDS Non-stop cultural parties in 2017

et ready for eight months of free parties, compliments of your Gfriendly neighbourhood embassies and high commissions . “Ottawa Welcomes the World” is a program dreamed up by Mayor Jim Watson for Ottawa’s 2017 celebrations . The city offered all foreign missions in Ottawa free rent in either Lansdowne’s Aberdeen Pavilion or the Horticulture Building if they agreed to host a cultural event there . A total of 75 missions — a healthy majority of the city’s total of 135 — took the mayor up on his offer and the Ottawa 2017 Bureau, along with lead sponsor CIBC, will help facilitate the events . “As the capital of Canada and host of so many foreign embassies and high commissions, our city has the unique opportunity to engage the international community in Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations,” Watson said . Various embassies and high commissions provided entertainment for the Ottawa Welcomes the Guy Laflamme, executive director of World launch at the Aberdeen Pavilion, where many of this year's events will take place. Here, the Ottawa 2017 Bureau, said he’s de- Radha Jetty performs a traditional Indian dance. lighted to have such a “wide spectrum of uptake from the diplomatic community . recently restored in honour of the 70th an- Serbia will also take part . “It’s an em- It fits with our mandate because it’s a cel- niversary of diplomatic relations between bassy thing, and a community thing — it’s ebration of diversity,” he said . Canada and Mexico . culture, dance, music and gastronomy,” Mexican Ambassador Agustin García- “We’d like to do something special for said Ambassador Mihailo Papazoglu López was on hand at a launch event your 150th,” he said, but added that for about his plans for a May 22 event . “The at the Aberdeen Pavilion, to which he now, it has to remain a secret . What's not free venue was a real boost for everyone to brought a mariachi band . He noted that a secret is the fact that Mexico will host a join Canada’s 150th celebration .” when Mexico celebrated its 150th in 1960, three-day event around its Cinco de Mayo See page 27 for a full schedule of the Canada's gift was a totem pole that was celebrations in May . events for the rest of 2017 . D a 2017 w O tta

26 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN GOOD DEEDS|DIPLOMATICA

OTTAWA WELCOMES THE WORLD CALENDAR

April 23-25 Embassy of Turkey

May 3 Embassy of Poland

May 5 – 7 Embassy of Mexico

May 12 Embassy of the United Arab Emirates

May 17 Embassy of Haiti

May 19 Embassy of Cuba

May 21 High Commission for Guyana

May 22 Embassy of Serbia

May 26-27 Embassy of Ukraine

May 28 Embassy of Ethiopia

June 1 High Commission for Kenya

June 9 Embassy of Croatia

June 13 Embassy of Honduras

June 16 Embassy of Ireland

June 23 Embassy of Slovenia

June 25 Embassy of Korea

June 28 Embassy of Madagascar

July 6 Embassy of Venezuela

July 7 High Commission for Rwanda

July 11 Embassy of Mongolia

July 14 High Commission for Tanzania

July 15-20 Embassy of Egypt

July 23 Embassy of Uruguay

October 3 High Commission for Uganda July 28 Embassy of Thailand

October 4-10 Embassy of China July 29 Embassy of Lithuania

October 15 Embassy of Japan August 4 Embassy of Colombia

November 17 Embassy of Haiti August 6 Embassy of Macedonia

November 20 Embassy of Lebanon August 7 High Commission for Jamaica

December 1 Embassy of Romania August 16 & 17 High Commission for Pakistan

Partner events: August 20 High Commission for Trinidad and Tobago

Ottawa Diplomatic Community – fundraising August 25-27 Embassy of Indonesia April 11 food and wine fair September 10 Embassy of Bulgaria May 24 Africa Day (30 countries) September 24 High Commission for Barbados Delegation of the European Union: June 11 September 26- 27 Embassy of Saudi Arabia 18 countries and their capitals of culture

September 29 High Commission for India June 19 AKDN (Aga Khan Development Network) a 2017

w October 1 Embassy of Slovakia July 9 Taipei Economic and Cultural Office O tta

diplomat and international canada 27 DIPLOMATICA|NOTES FROM THE FIELD Children’s Bridge Foundation: Making futures bright

By Sue Christie and Joanne Schnurr

ucy was just six years old when both her parents died from HIV/AIDS . LShe and her siblings, all from the coastal region of Kenya, were sent to live with their grandmother, but their grandmother was also ill and struggled to support the children . To complicate matters, Lucy’s little sister, who was infected with HIV at birth, wasn’t getting the medica- tion she needed to fight the disease . Lucy and her siblings did their best to look after themselves and their grandmother, but the situation became increasingly difficult . Eventually neighbours inter- vened and the children were taken to an orphanage . This might sound like the plot of a Dickens novel, but there are, in fact, 18 .5 million orphans living like this in devel- oping countries — children who have lost both parents or whose parents are unknown . This number is roughly equiv- alent to 50 per cent of Canada’s popula- Susan Christie, president Children's Bridge Foundation, in December 2016, with some children at tion . Some live with extended family, and the GOF orphanage in Watamu, Kenya. CBF sponsors their education and Christie visits every year. a very small number are adopted either in their own country or internationally, their progress and plans for the coming Home schooling became a necessity . CBF but far too many live in orphanages, year . CBF also gives educational support stepped in to provide a teacher as well as some of which can hardly afford even to children in Zambia, in orphanages in professional development for the caregiv- basic care . Lusaka and Ndola . There, CBF provides ers working at Elim, ensuring the best This is where The Children’s Bridge tuition, uniforms, educational materials possible future for the children living Foundation (CBF) steps in . This Ottawa- and transport to school for the children, as there . based registered charity was started in well as educational resources for the early The war in Syria has produced more 2003 by a group of adoptive parents who childhood learning centre . than 13 million refugees, six million of wanted to do something to help the chil- In China, CBF supports a group of whom are still there . Half are children, dren left behind in orphanages . Today, the HIV-positive children who are particularly and sadly, some of these children have foundation continues to be run entirely by marginalized . Life in orphanages in China been orphaned by the war, or separated a group of passionate volunteers, allowing is hard, but for these children, it is even from their families . An unaccompanied more than 93 per cent of funds raised to go worse . They are frequently not allowed child in a refugee camp is at risk of becom- directly to support health and education to eat or play with other children, and ing ill, malnourished, abused or exploited, programs for orphaned and abandoned many spend their lives in isolation . The so CBF has partnered with SOS Children’s children in Kenya, China, Zambia and, fear of contracting HIV/AIDS is so strong Villages to monitor and support these chil- most recently, unaccompanied children that often even orphanage staff members dren through the creation of child-friendly from Aleppo in refugee camps . are afraid to touch them . Without human spaces and care centres in the refugee In Kenya, the foundation helps Lucy contact, these children have very little camps . The children receive medical care, and many other children at the GOF or- hope . To help them, CBF partnered with counselling, nutritious meals, protection phanage in Watamu, through educational Elim Kids, an organization founded by and a safe place to play . sponsorships . Primary school education two Australian doctors . They established Through its fundraising efforts, CBF is is free in Kenya, but government-funded the Elim Group Home to care for HIV- living up to its motto — “embrace a child, schools are ill-equipped and sometimes positive children from orphanages in brighten a future .” To learn more about dangerous, with class sizes of up to 100 China . There, the children are cared for the CBF or to find out how you can help, students . To ensure the GOF children have in a family-style environment and receive visit childrensbridgefoundation .com or a chance to escape poverty, the foundation the medical treatment and care they need follow us on Facebook . provides funds for them to attend one of to stay healthy . Providing education for many local private schools . Sue Christie, the children, however, became a problem . Sue Christie is the president of Ottawa- president of CBF, visits the orphanage Once the local schools discovered they based Children’s Bridge Foundation . annually to meet the children and discuss had HIV, they were no longer welcome . Joanne Schnurr is a director of its board .

28 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN AFTER INAUGURATION|DIPLOMATICA

LOCATED AT

diplomat and international canada 29 DIPLOMATICA|diplomatic agenda My time of torture in Iraq’s Abu Ghraib

all, being made to lack of personal freedom, the Iraqi people FIRST NAME: Abdul Kareem watch a loved one finally saw hope when their neighbours Kaab being tortured broke free from a totalitarian regime . LAST NAME: or molested . Iraqis were inspired by the potential free- CITIZENSHIP: Iraqi Many prisoners dom and went out on the streets protest- died, but those ing immediately after the regime arrested PRESENTED CREDENTIALS AS who survived some vocal political clerics . Protesting, at March 22, 2016 AMBASSADOR: were reminded that time, was a never-before-seen act of ATIONS: weekly by hav- defiance in Iraq . previous OCCUP ing to go to This is where my story as a political Ambassador to Finland and their local se- and human rights activist began . It would Estonia cret police sta- take me to prison three times . I spent a tion and sign total of three years behind bars . My first their dossier, arrest was due to my efforts in planning be tortured and in- and participating in the Baghdad protest . terrogated . While the censorship, depriva- Ironically, the true threat to the Baath ecently we have been hearing the tion and torture were bad enough to break regime came from within when, in 1979, word “torture” thrown about by the strongest activist, the true struggle Saddam Hussein orchestrated a coup to Rpoliticians of the highest ranks and — for the lucky ones — came after their take down Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr, the we never really stop to ask ourselves what release . They were systematically alien- leader of the Baath party and the president that word truly means . What are the long- ated by the removal of their right to work, of Iraq, killing 23 of the highest-ranking term effects of keeping a nation under higher education and travel . Baath members and officials in the pro- constant threat of violence and intimida- In 1979, during the height of the Iran cess . As an act of appeasement, Saddam tion? I have a horrifying tale to tell, and revolution, the Baath regime, along with let some political prisoners go to avoid I hope it will answer those questions and partner regimes of similar interests, feared any attack on his newly formed govern- shed light on the mentality of a nation a revolt by the people . To prevent a revo- ment . I was one of them . that was in a constant state of fear . lution, the regime took extreme measures . My second and longest stretch behind Before I describe my experience in Abu Despite all attempts at censorship, the bars was in 1984 when I was arrested for Ghraib, Iraq’s infamous prison, I want to Iraqi people found ways to spread the making a donation to the families of de- give some context about what it meant to news of the Iranian revolution and slowly ceased political prisoners . I had seen many be a political prisoner in Baathist Iraq . The a sense of rebellion spread . After decades families of political prisoners system- majority of those incarcerated from 1978 to of humiliation, religious persecution and atically isolated and intentionally starved . 2003 were political prisoners who posed a potential threat to the integrity of the Baath regime . Among their “crimes” were being educated, young and able, of the Shiite faith, not pro-Baathist enough and defenders of human rights or supporters of charitable causes . The Iraqi people were under the watch- ful eye of a special police force that was focused on targeting anyone who posed a potential threat to the party or merely took the party’s name in vain . The state y had achieved complete control over all media organizations . That included cen- soring newspapers, broadcasts, literature, textbooks . They scrambled satellites and forbade copy and print machines . Once the secret police had an individual in their field of vision, that person would be subjected to assault and imprisonment . Political prisoners all over Iraq were blindfolded for days, tortured, bound, starved and deprived of every basic human need . The daily torture they endured Abu Ghraib was the site of serious breaches by American soldiers during the U.S. occupation of Iraq, included acid burns, amputation, electro- as pictured here. Ambassador Kaab wasn’t subjected to American torture, but he was jailed and

cution, painful contortion and worst of tortured by Saddam’s people on three different occasions. press / U. S . M i l itar b y the A sso c iated O btained

30 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN diplomatic agenda|DIPLOMATICA

Charity or any form of aid provided to the torture, I was unable to walk without the charge . That was my last long stay in the families of political prisoners was an act aid of a crutch, which meant that I was jails of a brutal dictator where I was sub- of treason and was punishable by death . not suitable for the front . I was given a jected to torture in an effort to get a confes- Being financially independent, I created position as an engineer in the military and sion that I had any part in the uprisings . an intricate network to disseminate my spent my service as an unarmed soldier . Anyone who was a potential threat was personal donations . Recipients and par- By 1991, I was married with one child dealt with by the most brutal methods, ticipants had no knowledge of each other, and another on the way . I had a lot more particularly anyone who had a shred of making it relatively safe from detection by to lose, so I attempted to return to nor- conscience and the ability to fight for hu- the regime’s security services . In 1984, an mal life, but my weekly dossier signings man rights . Decades of systematic oppres- acquaintance, who had at one point taken were a constant threat . I was sporadically sion and starvation created a generation of part in my donation network, was jailed imprisoned for a day or two and tortured young people who were unaware of their and while being tortured, he named me as frequently as a form of intimidation and to most basic rights and who were too afraid the organizer of the charity . serve as a reminder of the torture I experi- to even dream of rebellion . Certain groups I was then arrested, identified by my enced in prison . were targeted by the Saddam Baathist re- friend and again subjected to the same During the height of the Second Gulf gime and tens of thousands lie unnamed torture and conditions I faced in 1979 . I War, when thousands of corpses lay rot- in mass graves . was sentenced to 10 years, despite the lack ting and unclaimed on the battlefront, I remember seeing hysterical mothers of evidence and my refusal to confess, and Iraqi citizens took to the streets and called searching for the remains of their sons in sent to serve my sentence in Abu Ghraib . for an end to the Baath-Saddam regime piles of ashes and bones, only to break In 1986, I received news that hundreds of that had claimed the lives and freedom of down upon the sight of a familiar piece my fellow political prisoners and I were to all who dared to stand up to them, and of of torn cloth . Decades spent in complete be released and taken into military camps, the hundreds of thousands who died and isolation and under sanctions from the where we would be forced to serve on the were injured in Saddam's useless wars . international world, yearning for a book to front lines of the Iran-Iraq war . The Baath-Saddam regime feared that I, read or a song to sing, created a generation At this stage, the war had been going and anyone who had a political history, that does not even understand its own cul- on for six years and the situation in Iraq would contribute to the uprising and, in ture, let alone that of the world . had reached a new low . Saddam had a desperate effort to regain some control, I recall seeing coalition troops deployed slowly depleted his supply of young men they arrested anyone who was a potential near Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf and was drafting anyone who could hold threat . For me, this meant yet another stay War and I ask myself: “Where was the a Kalashnikov . Due to a lasting injury to in prison, this time for three months, as a world when Saddam filled another mass my right hip and leg, acquired through preventative measure and without a clear grave?” D

Celebrating 125 years in the nation’s capital Grades 4-12 | Coeducation | IB World School ashbury.ca

diplomat and international canada 31 DIPLOMATICA| Trade Winds Consider Latvia Canada’s Baltic trade hub

By Kārlis Eihenbaums

ith increasing bilateral co- Bombardier, visited here by Latvian delegates, has made a major sale to the Latvian government. operation and a brisker pace of Whigh-level visits, Canadian and Latvian trade is poised for steady growth national Airport offers direct flights to tion of synthetic resin and phenol films in the coming years . This is particularly more than 80 destinations serving more with customers in 60 countries . AirDog so given Latvia’s role as an undisputed than five million passengers per year . manufactures the only drone made for Baltic hub and Canada and Latvia’s mu- We believe business breeds business action sports while Blue Mic makes micro- tual intensive work with international or- and we think the quality and performance phones, including “the ultimate USB mi- ganizations such as the OECD, the WTO, of the Bombardier planes will be a good crophone for PC, Mac, iPhone and iPad .” the UN and NATO . advertisement for Canada in Latvia . They How do you know if Latvia is a good Canada and Latvia are set to celebrate will attract Latvian entrepreneurs to visit bet for you? Along with a well-developed the ratification of CETA, the free-trade Canada and vice-versa . infrastructure, access to European and agreement that represents a huge triumph Over the centuries, Latvia’s geopolitical regional markets, an income tax rebate for for EU-Canada relations and will smooth situation has been shaped by its strategic larger investments and macroeconomic the way to new business prospects . Baltic Sea location . Which sectors are stability, the most important of the recent Bilateral trade between Latvia and particularly promising in Latvia? We see “stamps of approval” for the investment Canada has been puttering along at well eight in which Latvia has great potential climate in Latvia came with Latvia’s suc- below 100 million euros per year and and which are ripe for harvesting: wood- cessful OECD membership bid . Canada hadn’t been among our Top-40 working and metalworking, mechanical The OECD accession process involved trade partners until now . Soon, it will take engineering, transport and storage, infor- an extensive review of the various sectors a dramatic jump thanks to the long-term mation technology (including global busi- of Latvia’s economy, including transpar- alliance forged between Bombardier and ness services), green technology, health ency, good governance and accountability . Latvian national carrier airBaltic, which care, life sciences and food processing . The Canadian company, Couche-Tard is has just bought 20 CS300 Series jetliners, Recent exports from Canada to Latvia already in Latvia through its new global technologically advanced aircraft that will include vehicles, machinery, chemicals, convenience brand, “Circle K .” become the workhorses of Latvia's fleet . plastics, optical devices and farm prod- Canada’s leadership in NATO’s mul- Bombardier, a world-renowned com- ucts . Likewise, Latvian exports to Canada tinational battalion in Latvia should also pany, is headquartered in Quebec . It has include machinery, food products, ve- be understood as a positive sign for Cana- packed three decades of experience into hicles, building supplies and textiles . dian companies contemplating Latvia as these planes while equipping them with Latvians are inventive and are open to a starting point for their business . Latvia bigger windows, more comfortable seats, co-operation . Some smart Latvian entre- has been a strong supporter of the trans- wider aisles, larger overhead storage and preneurs have become leaders in fields atlantic links to Europe and welcomes fuel efficiency that others only dream you might not expect . Canada’s flag and forward presence in our about as they compete for clients and try To wit, the world’s smallest mechani- country as we start to celebrate Canada’s to realize the 2030 sustainable develop- cal camera, the VEF Minox (James Bond 150th birthday and are on the verge of cel- ment goals for a smaller carbon footprint . “spy camera”) is from Latvia . Groglass is ebrating Latvia’s centennial in 2018 . Though Bombardier is an all-Canadian a world-class developer and manufacturer Visit www .liaa .gov .lv/en if you’re in- company, Canadians will have to travel of glass coatings used in high-end elec- terested in exploring opportunities and to Latvia to test out this new plane . Even tronics and architecture, among other ap- investment incentives in Latvia . with Bombardier’s Mirabel assembly line plications . Erenpreiss bicycles are made in going at full steam, the Canadian airlines Latvia, while Finieris is a leading provider Kārlis Eihenbaums is Latvia’s ambassa- will have a long wait . of birch plywood while also working in dor . Contact him by phone (613) 238-6014

And speaking of air travel, Riga Inter- forest management, logging and produc- or by email: embassy .canada@mfa .gov .lv . Comp l iments o f the embass y Latvia

32 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN trade winds|DIPLOMATICA India: The world’s fastest-growing economy

branches across Canada . Similarly, Canadian companies are active in India’s sectors of power and energy equipment and services; oil and gas; environmental products and services; telecom- munications and IT and financial services, including insurance . Those include SNC Lavalin, Bombardier, CAE Inc ., CPPIB, Fairfax Financial, Brookfield, Sun Life Fi- nancial, Canpotex Limited, McCain Foods, Amdocs and Bank of Nova Scotia . By Arun Kumar Sahu India and Canada are committed to finalizing the bilateral foreign investment ndia-Canada bilateral relations are promotion and protection agreement underpinned by shared values of (BIPPA) and comprehensive economic Idemocracy, pluralism and expanding partnership agreement (CEPA) to further strengthen relations . Our trade ministers economic engagement . Canada is home Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is spurring to more than 1 2. million people of Indian India's economy with ambitious programs. met in Toronto in late September 2016 to origin, making up three per cent of its discuss finalizing both agreements . population . Highly educated and indus- Canada is a reliable partner in India’s trious Indo-Canadians are well integrated flect our true potential . India accounts for quest for energy security . We have estab- and serve as a strong bridge between the just 0 .7 per cent of Canada’s global trade; lished an energy dialogue whose three two nations . it exports $3 9. billion worth of goods to pillars are power, clean energy and in- Both countries have established insti- Canada and Canada sends $4 .3 billion novation . Both sides are committed to tutional links to strengthen co-operation, worth to India . investing in clean technology research and trade and investment, especially in the Major Indian exports to Canada include development and to stimulating private- sectors of infrastructure, railways, space, gems, jewelry, precious stones, pharma- sector investment in the sector . A third civil nuclear co-operation, energy, educa- ceutical products, ready-made garments, round of talks was held last autumn . tion and skills development, agriculture, textiles, organic chemicals, light engineer- Education is another area of collabora- science, technology, innovation, culture ing goods, iron and steel articles . Major tion . More than 35,000 Indian students and people-to-people ties . exports from Canada to India include study in Canada . India and Canada also Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pulses, newsprint, wood pulp, asbestos, co-operate in space science, Earth ob- has an ambitious agenda that will catapult potash, iron scrap, copper, minerals and servation, satellite launch services and India onto a new growth trajectory . In industrial chemicals . Canada is a key sup- ground support for space missions . Our 2015, India emerged as the fastest-growing plier of potash and pulses, such as lentils IC-IMPACTS initiative brings together economy in the world with GDP growth — indeed India is the largest importer of researchers, industry innovators, com- of 7 .6 per cent in 2015 and 2016 . Canadian pulses . More than 30 per cent of munity leaders, government agencies and Committed to minimum government India’s imported pulses and 25 per cent of community organizations from across and maximum governance, India’s gov- India’s potash for use in fertilizers come India and Canada . ernment has made it easier to do business from Canada . Today, there’s a growing tendency and created attractive avenues for foreign Animal husbandry, dryland farming, for governments to look inward, but not direct investments in almost all sectors . food processing technologies, cold-chain India’s . Modi, during his visit to Ottawa Modi has also launched flagship pro- management (a temperature-controlled in April 2015, said: “Today it is my deep grams, including Digital India, Smart Cit- supply chain for fresh and frozen agri- belief that not only will we be present ies and Clean India and has encouraged cultural products) and agricultural sus- in each other’s thoughts, but also in our public-private partnerships . tainability are priority areas for bilateral endeavours . We will work together .” It These programs open up opportunities co-operation . was Lester Pearson, who, after the Second for Canadian companies . To ease move- Reputable Indian companies have World War, advocated for “participatory ment for visitors, business people and invested in Canada, especially in the sec- internationalism .” India is confident the investors, the government has simplified tors of information technology, steel and current Canadian government will con- its 10-year visa procedures and has also natural resources . Included among them tinue to hold high that Pearsonian spirit . introduced e-Tourist visa facilities . are Aditya Birla Group, Essar Steel, Tata India-Canada two-way trade has in- Consultancy Services, Tata Steel Minerals Arun Kumar Sahu is India’s deputy high creased from $4 .2 billion in 2010 to $6 .4 Canada, Tech Mahindra and Gujarat State commissioner . Reach him by email at billion in 2014 and, again, by 29 per cent Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (GSFC) . dhc@hciottawa .ca or by phone at (613)

M ark u s H agen l o c her to $8 .2 billion in 2015 . But this does not re- State Bank of India and ICICI Bank have 744-3751 .

diplomat and international canada 33 DIPLOMATICA| Trade Winds Canada-Chile FTA: 20 years of prosperity

By Alejandro Marisio

hile and Canada have much to look forward to in 2017 . This year, we Ccelebrate 20 years of our bilateral free-trade agreement, a milestone, as it Chile produces a third of the world's copper. was the first of its kind for Chile . Back in 1997, we negotiated an ambitious agenda and the FTA included goods, services and work at diversifying their export matrix . us together with Canada every year at the investment that were complemented by Trade is not only a bilateral endeavour . Prospectors & Developers Association of environment and labour agreements, as Our country also participates in multilat- Canada (PDAC) Convention in Toronto . well as a treaty to avoid double taxation eral and regional integration efforts and is Chile attended PDAC 2017 as a sponsor and tax evasion . an active member of the Pacific Alliance, to showcase opportunities in mining and With more than 98 per cent of our trade a joint initiative with Colombia, Mexico related services . completely free of tariffs, the results have and Peru . Indeed, Chile currently occupies Chile offers attractive opportunities in been impressive . Our bilateral trade has the organization's presidency . Canada strategic sectors, such as mining equip- tripled in 20 years, soaring from $559 mil- has free-trade agreements with all four ment, technology and services (METS), the lion US in 1997 to more than $1 .6 billion members of the Pacific Alliance and is an food industry, energy, infrastructure and US in 2016 and is set to grow again after a observer country that has established a tourism . period of low commodity prices . strategic partnership with an ambitious Last year, Chile and Canada celebrated Chile values its trade experience with work agenda geared at strengthening 75 years of diplomatic relations . Our trade Canada and regards it as a successful trade and investment through co-opera- and investment relationship is based on example of how working together can tion . a common view of the world . We regard The Audi A6 Sedan. deliver concrete results to both countries Investment is also a vibrant part of our each other as like-minded countries and Effi cient, elegant, exceptional. and their people . We also strive to expand economic relations . Canada currently has strategic partners that share common free trade with the rest of the world and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Chile of values and a commitment to democracy, Representing your country is an honourable task: In the diplomatic service, perfection and outstanding performance Chile’s commitment to liberalization is more than $19 .2 billion US . Canada’s more human rights, the environment and a free- are required on all levels. Anyone who is equal to this challenge also has the highest of standards when it comes to intensive foreign direct investment is in market economy . evident in agreements we have with 60 cars – and quite rightly so. 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diplomat and international canada 35 Di spatches|Russia resurgent

cut © N iko l aev | D reamstime. c om

36 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Russia resurgent|Di spatches

On guard for Russian defence

Aside from its military, Russia is a weak major power.

By Pierre Jolicoeur

any see today’s Russia as one of about Vladimir Putin’s intentions and over the nature and causes of the war the most challenging threats to what the Russian president might do next . in Ukraine and the causes of the dete- MCanada, the United States and, Considering Putin has established an au- rioration in relations between the west and to varying degrees, their allies . There is thoritarian, expansionist state, some west- Russia, the big picture of international af- much debate about how to counter these ern analysts, although not the mainstream, fairs might be perceived, in some respects, threats — where Russia might strike have even expressed fears that a belliger- similarly in Moscow and in western capi- next, and how to deter Russian aggres- ent Russia might, at some point, launch tals . Official documents and speeches from sion — but there’s no doubt that Russia is, an attack against some NATO members, Russian officials point to an increasingly once again, on Canada’s security agenda . namely the Baltic states, which could re- unstable, threatening international envi- The war in Ukraine, Russia’s interven- ronment; indeed, Russia also faces an “arc tion in Syria, its attempts to influence the of crisis” around it . recent presidential elections in the U S. ,. Still, the two perceptions diverge in combined with its extensive program of many fundamental respects . Russian of- military modernization, lend urgency to ficials, for instance, have voiced their con- this debate . cerns about western attempts to provoke Moscow’s perspective on those events a “colour revolution” (think Ukraine's will help illustrate the increasing abyss Orange Revolution) in Russia and its between the ways security issues are neighbouring states . Moreover, rather perceived by western capitals and by than having confidence in an international Moscow . system that could be working with the collaboration of all, it appears that the Divergent views Russian leadership is implementing emer- For many western observers, the war in gency measures based on the assump- Ukraine is symptomatic of a fundamental tion that Russia is not ready to face these shift in the characteristics of the post-Cold external and internal challenges . From its War era . Although Russia’s relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, shown here perspective, rather than “militarizing” ag- the west had already been strained since greeting members of his military, has established gressively, Russian officials are putting in the mid 2000s, the annexation of Crimea an ”authoritarian, expansionist state.” place a defensive plan for an eventual war . and the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2014 have dramatically aggravated the A “new containment” against Russia situation . Russia, which, for most of the sult in a confrontation with NATO . In the Given the deep deterioration in Rus- post-Cold War era was absent from west- same vein, many NATO members have sia’s relations with the majority of the ern political radar, or was not perceived observed with apprehension Russia’s west, there is much debate in Russia, and as a significant military threat, made an resurgence, its recent “militarization” and western countries, about the potential impressive return to the forefront of the the substantial increase in Russian defence emergence of a Cold War 2 .0 and a new strategic agenda . investment resulting in significantly im- confrontation between Russia and the Russian actions have raised a series of proved military capabilities . west . This confrontation takes the shape

ormation o ff i c e f r u ssia presidentia l press and in f ormation concerns in the Euro-Atlantic community Beyond the obvious disagreements of a “new containment,” performed by

diplomat and international canada 37 Di spatches|Russia resurgent

NATO member states, both by the alli- resources . Moscow’s military campaign in 2014 when it invaded Ukraine, a number ance’s successive enlargements of the past Syria is, in many ways, the practical dem- of Moscow’s concerns date back a decade two decades and by the deployment of onstration of Russia’s new posture . It rep- or more, and are a consequence of western additional troops and weapons in new resents a continuation of the competition, interventions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, NATO member states . even confrontation, with the west that Iraq, Libya and Syria . There are often-stated and well-known erupted in Ukraine and that is sustained accusations made by Russian officials by Russia’s attempts to rebuild a military Real Russian capacities denouncing the destabilizing role of the capacity that is deployable across the Despite the new Russian assertiveness de- west, particularly the United States, in world . Its new capacities allow Moscow scribed above, we have to put Moscow’s international affairs . Some depict a grow- to prevent what it considers as undesir- capacities into perspective . Notwithstand- ing encirclement of Russia, emphasized able developments, such as a western-led ing formidable military capabilities, Rus- by NATO enlargements and by U S. . campaign of regime change in Syria, and sia remains a weak major power . Without deployments around the world . More to defend Russian interests throughout any doubt, a qualitative change is occur- specifically, Moscow accuses the west of the world . Indeed, the Syrian conflict ring in Russia’s military and influential causing an imbalance in Euro-Atlantic is the first substantial demonstration of capacities, especially if we compare them security through the expansion of exclu- Russia’s determination and its ability to with those it had at the time of its military sive organizations such as NATO (and conduct expeditionary warfare in a remote intervention in Georgia in 2008 . This being the European Union) . Yet another type of intrusive intervention by the west is perceived within Russia itself . Unless the new Trump administration completely stops playing that role, the U .S .-led west is seen by Moscow as interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign states, exacerbating in- stability through its financial and military support to rebel groups and mercenaries, which facilitates the appearance of colour revolutions in states that resist U .S . hegemony . Thus, senior figures in the Russian leadership, including Putin himself, have often pointed to a threat posed by those colour revolutions . In this sense, the war in Ukraine is seen by Russian authorities as just one part of a wider crisis that has been evolving for some time .

Russia’s actions and perceptions Facing the combination of this perceived external arc of crisis and neo-containment, in addition to internal problems, the Rus- sian government appears to be implementing emergency measures exploiting a besieged fortress narrative in order to mobilize popular opinion and to obtain high approval ratings among the Rus- Russian authorities see the war in Ukraine as just one part of a wider crisis that's been evolving for sian population . Of course, this patriotic some time. mobilization is also aimed at sustaining high levels of popular support for Putin geographical region, made possible by the said, Russia’s recent military actions also until the presidential elections scheduled improvements to its air force and navy indicate that the country’s relative weak- for 2018 . Some observers have suggested, thanks to its modernization program of ness remains . though, that the peak of Putin’s popular- the past few years . If we take the intervention in Ukraine ity has been reached and that it will be In short, there is an increasingly obvi- as an example, it is clear that, from a difficult for him to maintain this level of ous abyss between the ways security is geopolitical perspective, Russia needs support, given dire economic trends that perceived by the west and by Russia . Ukraine to act as a buffer to western might provoke social protest against his Although the assessment of some security powers . Before the ousting of presi- leadership . threats is quite similar, Moscow draws dent Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russian In Moscow’s view, Russia finds itself different conclusions from its own view government was in power in Kiev . It under pressure from external and internal on the current international environment . was overthrown and replaced by a risks and threats . The Russian leadership Developments in Syria are the most recent pro-western government . Putin’s in- is responding with a review of its strategic example . Furthermore, it appears that vasion of Ukraine and annexation of . Ku zmin documentation and an attempt to consoli- although western observers tend to date Crimea, where Russia already had forces

date Russian society and concentrate its Russia’s threats and aggression back to deployed by treaty, was simply an at- V ly V ita

38 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Russia resurgent|Di spatches

tempt to demonstrate decisive force, right-wing groups around the world . Russia’s position to negotiate with the but turned out to be a half-defeat . True, Trump administration over a range of is- with the conflict boiling, Ukraine cannot Trump's victory: Opportunities for Russia sues . join the EU or NATO, but Putin’s bid to Over the past year, mounting tensions Closer to Russia’s borders, these foment an uprising across all of eastern have exposed that not only was the abyss changes will enable Russia to recover Ukraine failed . Despite a much wider increasing between Russia and western some of its influence on the former So- distribution of ethnic Russians in east- powers, but that new cracks — some were viet Union’s territory . Given the state of ern Ukraine, the uprising only occurred there since the old-new Europe divide the EU, Brussels will be hesitant to move in the Donbass region . identified by former U .S . defence secre- forward with the admission of new mem- After the Ukrainian experience, Russia tary Donald Rumsfeld — appeared in the bers in the near future . As their prospect needed a military victory that would be western front against Russia . The Brexit for integration with the EU and NATO seen by the world . Putin’s intervention issue revealed deep rifts in the European is collapsing, countries such as Ukraine, in Syria allowed him to save Syrian Presi- Union, and the establishment of Donald Moldova and Georgia might re-evaluate dent Bashar al-Assad . Even if the success Trump’s new administration makes a their relationship with Russia . Some signs in Syria is real, it took more than a year to rupture appear in Washington’s policy are already showing . In Moldova, a recent recapture ISIS’s fort of Aleppo . Now that towards Russia . Elections across Europe in presidential vote has elected Igor Dogon, a Aleppo has fallen, Russia’s new assertive 2017 — France, Germany, Netherlands — candidate who has pledged to increase ties

During the Cold War, Russia dominated or heavily influenced strips of the Middle East. Today, it controls only parts of Syria.

power appears somewhat blemished . could further widen the cleavages divid- with Russia and re-evaluate the country’s During the Cold War, Russia dominated ing the Euro-Atlantic bloc and challenge EU integration perspectives . Similarly, or heavily influenced entire strips of the the future of the EU . Ukraine and Georgia might adopt a more Middle East: Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya and For Moscow, the west’s looming strug- pragmatic approach towards Russia, Algeria . Today, Russia controls only parts gles in the coming year represent new increasing trade ties with the big brother of Syria . opportunities . Russia has worked to and, to their great despair, compromising This is not to say that Russia no longer exploit and, in some cases, influence the over the status of their breakaway ter- constitutes a threat . If its leaders should dynamics of the EU and the U .S to under- ritories . y adim S avitsk lose their minds, they have a variety of mine western unity through propaganda nuclear weapons they could use . If the campaigns and cyberattacks . Moscow will Pierre Jolicoeur is a professor of political Russian leadership was willing to take likely intensify these efforts in 2017, mak- science at the Royal Military College of extreme risks, it could attack the Baltics ing the most of the discord within the west Canada in Kingston, Ont . He’s currently y o f D e en c e, V and thereby do what is needed to reunite to achieve its goals, such as an end to the a Fulbright fellow at the Peace and War NATO — or to dissolve it . But instead, sanction regimes . Moreover, the relative Center at Norwich University in North-

M inistr Putin is increasingly supporting extreme success observed in Syria could improve field, Vermont .

diplomat and international canada 39 Di spatches|Russia resurgent Trump and Putin: A troubling, high-stakes relationship By Stephen M. Saideman

Perhaps the most dramatic change in foreign policy under U.S. President Donald Trump is the turnaround in attitudes towards Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

hile the presidency of Donald comes to Vladimir Putin, Trump has been sier suggested Trump is being blackmailed Trump has presented many sea quite consistent . He has repeatedly spoken due to indiscretions the Russians filmed Wchanges in American foreign positively about Putin, often in admira- in Moscow and perhaps elsewhere . One policy, perhaps the most dramatic is the tion of his strong leadership . Putin “has could focus on Trump’s business interests turnaround in attitudes towards Russia been a leader far more than our president in Russia . He may owe hundreds of mil- and Vladimir Putin’s leadership . Previous [Obama] has been,” he told the BBC . This lions of dollars to Russian banks . How- presidents have tried to reset the relation- is not new, as Trump complimented Putin ever, he also owes a great deal of money to ship with Russia, but Trump’s admiration in a 2011 book, Time to Get Tough: Mak- Chinese banks, but is quite hostile towards of Putin and his apparent willingness to ing America No. 1 Again . Given that Putin China . side with Putin against American allies has had opponents and journalists killed, It might make more sense, therefore, to is beyond a reset — it is revolutionary . given harbour to Edward Snowden, and, focus on Trump’s admiration of authori- This relationship raises doubts about the of course, attacked Ukraine, one would tarian leaders . Putin is not the only auto- future of NATO and stability in Europe . think that an American politician would crat that Trump has admired . About Kim There has been much speculation about not want to be too chummy with him . Jong Un of North Korea, he told those at the sources of this attitude toward Russia, However, to Trump, these may be assets an Iowa campaign rally: “You have to give with no definitive answers . and not drawbacks . him credit… he goes, he takes over and The challenge in understanding Trump There has been much speculation about he’s the boss .” is that he often says things that contradict why Trump has such fondness for Putin . He has said similarly positive things

previous statements . However, when it Most famously, a widely circulated dos- about Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, Chinese White H o u se/ © Frédéri c Legrand | D reamstime. om

40 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Russia resurgent|Di spatches leaders and even Mussolini . So, one does decision-making body, is the president . So, Bosnia . While the EU is somewhat less not have to buy into theories of blackmail, the leaders of the Baltics are most uncer- vulnerable than NATO — the British are but instead pay attention to Trump’s tain these days about whether the United learning that exit is hard and costly — it words . He likes autocrats, respecting States would come to their defence . And still faces a rough road ahead due to the strength even as it is defined as repression that is a problem since Article V — an combined challenges posed by Trump and and brutality . Perhaps the key to Trump’s attack upon one is to be considered an Putin . fondness for Russia these days is that Pu- attack upon all — is at the very heart of tin has played his cards well, pandering to NATO . If Putin were to trigger a crisis and Ukraine as a battlefield Trump and his ego . Again, it is hard to tell the United States does not act as it has Perhaps no country is more worse off what is driving this dynamic . promised for 70 years, the alliance might after Trump’s victory than Ukraine . While It is far easier to discern the effects of well fall apart . the United States does not have a commit- this relationship on international peace One of the basic findings in the study ment to defend Ukraine, at least not one and stability . Simply put, Trump’s rela- of war is that wars occur when there is as strong as the ties to NATO countries, tionship with Putin puts a great deal of uncertainty about alliances . Sometimes, its support of Ukraine in its war against the post-Second World War order at risk . it is when a country feels overconfident Russia has been significant . Trump, how- Trump’s stances on the North Atlantic about its friends and launches aggression . ever, has indicated that Crimea is a done Treaty Organization [NATO], the Euro- Often, it is when a country feels that its deal, and it is time to put that dispute in pean Union and Ukraine all present grave target will be alone, attacks, and then finds the past . While social scientists like to threats . The risks in the years ahead are itself at war with an alliance . The Gulf War say that correlation is not causation, it mighty high . of 1990-91 started exactly this way . Maybe may not be a coincidence that Russian Putin will be surprised and find NATO to attacks in Ukraine recently escalated, The future of NATO is at stake be more resolute than he expects, but that shortly after Trump had his first presi- For as long as NATO has existed and would be after the crisis is well along, per- dential phone call with Vladimir Putin . especially after the end of the Cold War, haps leading to a real shooting war in Eu- Whether Trump gave Putin a green light there has been much anxiety about its con- rope . The stakes are simply that high ,with or not, the appearance of one will create tinued existence . Today, the alliance truly Trump creating too much uncertainty yet more uncertainty and fear in Ukraine is in danger . Trump is very inconsistent about what NATO might do . and in the region . on most things, but he has consistently been critical of the Atlantic alliance . While The European Union as an alternative Uncertain times many American leaders have been criti- If NATO were to fall apart, some might We really do not know what is motivat- cal of the burden-sharing, Trump is the look to the European Union to replace ing Trump, but his apparent willingness first to suggest that countries that do not the alliance as the provider of security to drop sanctions against Russia without pay enough might not receive American in Europe . The problem is that Trump is getting anything in return is suggestive . backing in a crisis . Indeed, Trump’s lan- abetting Putin’s assault on the European Trump seems to favour Putin and his pref- guage is closer to a protection racketeer: Union as well . Ted Malloch, Trump’s erences over those of the U .S .'s traditional It would be awful if something happened choice for U S. . ambassador to the Euro- allies and newer friends . Trump’s hostil- to you… if you do not pay up . This would pean Union, said on a late-night talk show ity to multilateral co-operation threatens be problematic in normal circumstances, that he “had in a previous career a diplo- not just NATO and the European Union . but it is doubly dangerous now with Putin matic post where I helped bring down the Combined with the Putin admiration, seeking any opportunity to break NATO . Soviet Union . So maybe there’s another it makes the threats to these institutions Since the illegal annexation of Crimea, union that needs a little taming .” Trump’s more severe . NATO has struggled to provide stronger hostility to the EU was clear as he rooted The key problem is that the United assurances to those most exposed — Es- on Brexit, but appointing an ambassador States has spent 70 years trying to reduce tonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and, to a lesser who is this hostile to the organization is uncertainty about its role in Europe and degree, Poland . At the last summit, NATO shocking Europeans . Again, this would in the international order, and now Trump countries agreed to send modest numbers not be so problematic if Putin were not is willing to kiss all of that goodbye . of troops, a thousand to each of the four, also seeking to undermine the EU . By Leaders will worry and try to anticipate, to deter Russian aggression . The Obama supporting far-right parties across Europe either by arming themselves or by ap- administration deployed a brigade combat that are hostile to the EU, Putin is trying to peasing their potential aggressor . Neither team early, just before Christmas, perhaps make sure that Ukraine and Belarus and pathway leads to stability or prosperity . to make it harder for Trump to backtrack other countries in its self-appointed sphere International relations are hard enough on Obama’s promises . of influence are denied the temptation of to conduct when the bedrock upon which However, it does not take much to membership . much is based is firm, but when it is shak- undo these commitments . First, the Amer- While the EU has had much difficulty ing, as Trump shakes U .S .’s commitment ican troops are rotated in and out, and facing a series of crises over the past few to the international order, countries will be there is nothing stopping Trump from can- years, it has also been responsible for facing tough choices, guessing about the celling the U .S .’s next rotation . Congress much prosperity as well as the fostering of likely behaviour of friends and foes, and cannot force Trump to meet his alliance democracy in what used to be the Warsaw probably making more than a few tragic commitments . Second, despite efforts by Pact . Its demise would be detrimental to mistakes . Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to reassure international commerce and stability in Europeans, in a crisis, the person decid- the Balkans where the promise of mem- Stephen M . Saideman is the Paterson ing how the United States would vote bership may have moderated the impact Chair in International Affairs at Carleton at the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s of nationalists in Serbia, Croatia and University .

diplomat and international canada 41 Di spatches|Russia resurgent Repairing Canada-Russia relations

By Paul Robinson

Canadian diplomats posted to Russia — who work in the embassy pictured here — have been busier thanks to a thaw in relations after the 2015 election. But the appointment of a new foreign minister has some experts wondering if relations will revert back to pre-2015 ways.

ealing with the Trump adminis- relations on both sides … Ms . Freeland is security and political affairs, visited tration will no doubt be the top heavily anti-Russian biased,” he said . Moscow in November last year and met Dpriority of Chrystia Freeland, During Stephen Harper’s final term in Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Canada’s newly minted foreign minister, office, the Canadian government pursued Ryabkov . Junior diplomats and military but it was the question of her attitude a policy of cold-shouldering Russia . On officers have been spotted at functions towards the Russian Federation that gen- the rare occasions when Canadian offi- at the Russian embassy in Ottawa; and erated the most headlines when she took cials found themselves in the same room Global Affairs and the Russian embassy the job in January . as their Russian counterparts, they used co-sponsored a conference at Carleton Those hoping that Canadian-Russian the opportunity to deliver lectures . Not University on the subject of Canada- relations might improve under the current surprisingly, constructive dialogue about Russia; Dialogue and Co-operation in the government reacted very negatively . Her matters of mutual interest proved to be Arctic . nomination was a “catastrophe,” professor impossible . In an interview for this article, Kirill Michael Carley of the Université de Mon- The Liberals’ victory in 2015 brought Kalinin, spokesman for the Russian Em- tréal told Sputnik News . Similarly, Piotr hope that things would change . To some bassy, said that prior to the 2015 general Diutkiewicz, Carleton University’s distin- extent, this did indeed happen, as foreign election, Russian diplomats “did not have guished professor of Russian studies, told minister Stéphane Dion carried through contact with our colleagues in the Depart- the CBC that dialogue with Russia under with a promise to engage with Russia . ment of Foreign Affairs .” Now, however, Freeland’s leadership was hard to imag- Mark Gwozdecky, Global Affairs Canada’s “professional contacts have resumed” and

ine . “I believe it will be a period of frozen assistant deputy minister for international “people have started to discuss issues .” 6speeddiese l

42 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Russia resurgent|Di spatches

This constitutes a “big improvement,” Kalinin said . However, the choice of Freeland as foreign minister has sparked fears that the brief détente might come to an end . Freeland is a long-standing critic of Rus- sian President Vladimir Putin, and has often called for even stronger measures to be taken by western states against Rus- sia . Before the 2015 election, for instance, she criticized the Harper government for being too soft and demanded that Russia be excluded from the SWIFT international banking system . Despite this, it appears for now that Freeland is unlikely to halt the Canadian government’s policy of incremental, “controlled engagement .” In a statement for this article, Michael O’Shaughnessy, a spokesman for Global Affairs Canada, said, “Canada believes in the importance of engagement, dialogue and diplomacy; including with countries where we have profound disagreements .” According to O’Shaughnessy, Canada will continue to condemn Russia for its actions in Ukraine and will work with allies to maintain sanctions and economic pressure on Russia . Chrystia Freeland's appointment as foreign minister in January was heralded as a “catastrophe” by But it will also “continue to engage with one expert, but that may prove to be exaggerated, says writer Paul Robinson. Russia for the purpose of advancing Ca- nadian interests and expressing Canadian pose a trade embargo on Soviet imports . And yet, the two countries’ interests values on issues such as the Arctic and Only in 1942, in the midst of the Second coincide far more than they conflict . As international security .” World War, did Canada establish dip- neighbours in the Arctic, Canada and Rus- In light of these statements, the fears lomatic relations with the USSR . After sia share concerns about issues of resource that accompanied Freeland’s appointment the end of the war, the Gouzenko spy development, environmental protection may prove to be exaggerated . The current case sent relations once again into a tail- and the delineation of international bor- government seems to understand that its spin . Pierre Trudeau’s brief attempt to ders . They also have common interests in predecessor’s policy was counterproduc- strengthen Canadian-Soviet ties in the ensuring a stable international order and tive and that Canada needs to talk with 1970s did not achieve much, and by the countering threats to security such as ter- Russia in order to solve common prob- early 1980s, the Mulroney government rorism and weapons proliferation . lems . That said, it is clear that engagement was back to casting the Soviet Union as a Putin has repeatedly made it clear that will not mean an end to sanctions and a serious threat . Another rapprochement in a strong Russia depends upon a strong return to relations as they were before the the 1990s turned out to be equally short- economy, which in turn depends upon in- start of the Ukrainian crisis in 2014 . More lived . ternational stability and Russia’s integra- probably, the new normal will involve tion into global institutions . Supporting a limited conversations between the two stable international order is thus as much countries on matters of mutual interest, in Russia’s interests as it is in Canada’s . but within an overall relationship that re- The differences that exist between the two mains quite tense . countries, for instance on the subject of This should come as no surprise . Rus- Ukraine, pale in significance when com- sian-Canadian relations have almost never pared to these larger mutual goals . ton, 8 Wing I maging been particularly good . There was very Both sides are, of course, responsible little contact between the two nations for the failure to exploit their common an M o ul prior to the First World War, and following interests to build a good relationship . That the Revolution of 1917, Canadian gov- said, in recent years it has been Canada ernments looked upon the Soviet Union that has taken the initiative in sanctioning as a dangerous ideological opponent . In Russia, sidelining Russia and denouncing the mid-1920s, there were considerable Russia — not vice-versa . There remains a tensions between Canada and the Soviet strong sense that Russia is a hostile and Union as a result of propaganda and aggressive power that needs to be treated currency forgery allegedly carried out in Canada has said it will continue to engage as such . There are a number of explana- Canada by the Soviet trade delegation . Russia for the purpose of advancing Canadian tions for this . values on such issues as the Arctic. Wor l d e c onomi f or u m/ Cp Ry In 1931, Canada went so far as to im- First, Canadian attitudes towards Russia

diplomat and international canada 43 Di spatches|Russia resurgent must be understood in the context of de- lobby favouring good relations with Rus- are purely external and can be solved by cades of Russophobic thinking . Stereotypes sia . Canadian governments can pontificate getting foreign countries to exert pressure of Russia as authoritarian and imperialistic about the evils of Russia without risking a on Russia . This has distracted attention exert a powerful influence on how Ca- political backlash or serious damage to the from the important internal causes of the nadian political elites view that country . economy . Russia thus provides a suitable conflict and has prevented action from be- Sensible, dispassionate analysis of Russian target for politicians wanting to show how ing taken to address those causes . politics is almost entirely lacking . Russian tough they are . foreign and domestic policies are instead Third, Canada’s desire to be a good ally What can Canada do? described in the darkest tones, with news- has led it to unquestioningly follow the Russians’ expectations are fairly modest . paper headlines such as “Putin’s secret lead of other NATO members . Instead of While they would like to see an end to plan to destroy the west .” Whatever one questioning the wisdom of measures such sanctions, they are realistic enough not thinks of Russian policy, these exaggerate as NATO expansion, European missile to expect this in the short term . Instead, the supposed threat Russia poses to Cana- defence and the deployment of additional according to Kalinin, what they seek is dian interests while generating demands NATO troops in Eastern Europe, Canada the “normalization of ties,” which he says for a hostile response . has gone along enthusiastically, forgetting involves “honest dialogue” and means Second, although some Canadian that alliances are meant to serve our inter- that Russia’s national interests are taken companies (especially in the mining sec- ests, not to be ends in themselves . into consideration . It should not be too tor) have invested heavily in the Russian Fourth, there are political forces within difficult for Canada to satisfy this desire, as Canada appears to recognize that there are areas in which constructive dialogue with Russia is possible, most notably the Arctic, where there are still unresolved issues, such as overlapping territorial claims . With this in mind, the most important thing that the Canadian government should do is continue to expand the policy of engagement begun under Dion . Canada should also ensure engagement involves real dialogue rather than merely lectures to the Russians . Russians do not think Canada has the moral right to lecture them, and are offended, not persuaded, when it does . Next, although Russians are not expect- ing great changes, they do want consis- tency . Engaging Russia on the one hand, while criticizing it and strengthening sanctions against it on the other, is not likely to generate a positive response . Improvements in inter-governmental relations are not likely to be long-lasting if they do not rest upon a strong base of Russian-Canadian ties at a lower level . Not only have such ties always been somewhat weak, they have become even weaker in recent years . Long-term progress requires an effort by Canadians in a Russian soldiers in Ukraine: The differences that exist between Russia and Canada, such as those variety of professions — businesspeople, involving the war in Ukraine, writes professor Paul Robinson, pale in significance when compared to academics, politicians, public servants their larger mutual goals. and others — to revitalize networks with their Russian counterparts . These Federation, overall, Canada does very Canada that favour a tense relationship ties can become the foundation of a fu- little trade with Russia . Canadian exports with Russia . The most prominent of these ture relationship based on mutual un- to Russia amount to less than $1 billion a is the Ukrainian lobby, although the extent derstanding . year, a tiny amount compared to the $20 of its political influence is hard to estimate . The government of Canada and or- billion a year exported to China, and the The Harper government’s support for the dinary Canadians have a role to play in $350 billion exported to the United States . Maidan Revolution, a political upheaval improving relations between the two larg- Canada-Russia trade rose in the 1990s, but that has brought Ukraine nothing but est countries in the world . If they take the began declining after 2010, and has fallen woe, was remarkably irresponsible . Since opportunity, Canada can only benefit . considerably since the start of the Ukrai- then, by focusing relentlessly on Russian nian crisis . Notwithstanding the existence aggression as the cause of the war in Don- Paul Robinson is a professor of public and of the Canada Eurasia Russia Business As- bass, the Canadian government has en- international affairs in the faculty of social

sociation, Canada lacks a strong business couraged a belief in Kiev that its problems sciences at the University of Ottawa . © A ndre y kr | D reamstime. c om

44 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Russia resurgent|Di spatches China and Russia: It’s complicated By Jeremy Paltiel

ith the advent of Donald Trump tary confrontation . It prefers to hide tional domestic reserves are dwindling and the rise of populism in its strength behind a screen of pawns and where much of China’s petrochemical Wmuch of the western world, rather than sacrificing them in military industry is housed . But Russia’s reserves many fear we have descended into a adventures . Whereas Putin looks to asym- in eastern Siberia are limited and it cannot new age of authoritarianism in which metrical hybrid conflicts to gain tactical supply more than a fraction of China’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping set advantage, China chooses to steadily build needs . Furthermore, Putin has been wary the tone for international politics . While up its comprehensive national strength . It of relying on China as a sole customer China and Russia have enjoyed close re- looks to dominate in the long term, rather with the leverage China gains over pric- lations in recent years, easily dismissing than scramble for temporary advantage . ing . the foreign policies of these two countries For that reason, the two countries hold Putin has flirted time and again with obscures more than it clarifies . contrasting views over the need for global Japan and Korea as economic partners for Though these two leaders deploy harsh stability . China craves peace and devel- Siberian resources . Russia also supplies repression against civil society critics and opment as the backdrop for its peaceful China with natural gas along the same are determined to crush the first hint of rise . Putin moves from accommodation to route . Again, these supplies are not suffi- any “colour” revolutions, their world out- cient to meet China’s demand, and Russia looks are far from congruent and the bilat- has reached another contract to supply eral relationship between their two states China in the west, involving a spur from generates considerable friction below the Russia’s West Siberian fields into China’s surface protestations of friendship and northwestern Xinjiang territory . This is good neighbourliness within a “strategic relatively far from China’s major centres of partnership .” Both sides acknowledge demand along the coast, and supplies into each other as their first strategic partners; Xinjiang compete with abundant gas, sup- nonetheless, they are far from allies . plied from the former Soviet Republic of The two countries and their leaders Turkmenistan, and which travels through are joined in deep suspicion and active Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to China . rejection of a global liberal hegemony led Western Siberian gas also flows west to by the U .S . and supported by Europe and Europe and the Chinese, given the Turk- the U .S .’s allies . But they do not share a men alternative, have been able to negoti- single vision of global governance, nor do ate a price lower than that paid by Europe they bring to global governance, the same once Russia was hit by European sanc- toolkit with which to influence global tions . Similarly, China is a major investor outcomes . in oil from Kazakhstan, which likewise China is the stronger economic power enters China by pipeline to Xinjiang . The whose strength is derived largely from China and Russia are joined in their deep Russians are keenly aware that friendship suspicion and active rejection of a global liberal the benefits of globalization . It is a strong with China comes without special favours . hegemony led by the U.S. and supported by allies. supporter of free trade and the multi- At the same time, the economic inroads lateral trading order, and it is willing to China has made in Russia’s backyard, in use considerable economic and financial confrontation as tactical advantages arise . former Soviet Central Asia, are further resources to support it . Just recently, China does not need to win points so long cause for wariness . China’s Xi travelled to the Davos Forum as it gradually gains strategic ground . in Switzerland to reaffirm his unshakeable Russia wary of China’s reverse-engineering support for open trade and globalization, Basic complementarities China makes a point of not poking the warning against “closing oneself off in a As the world’s largest oil importer, China bear in that region, but nonetheless, dark room .” leans on Russia to support its energy se- Central Asia’s authoritarian and secular Russia’s comparative advantage lies curity . China imports most of its oil from post-Soviet leaders are eager for whatever overwhelmingly with oil and gas, with the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia its economic benefits they can negotiate with strength in other natural resources . This largest supplier . That oil must travel to the Chinese . China not only provides

оссии is the basis of considerable trade comple- China by sea, through the Indian Ocean economic assistance through the Shang- mentarity that masks an uncomfortable and the Strait of Malacca before reaching hai Cooperation Organization, it has also asymmetry in the bilateral relationship . the South China Sea . Much of this route is announced a major initiative around the Russia leans on the legacy of Soviet Cold patrolled by the U .S . navy, leaving China New Silk Road or One Belt-One Road, War militarization to achieve goals along vulnerable to an oil cutoff should relations which is aimed at boosting infrastructure its periphery, but also further afield, in with the U .S . deteriorate . Russia supplies and connectivity from East Asia across the the Middle East . China has been steadily China with oil from Siberia, which flows Eurasian continent . and cautiously building its military forces, directly overland by pipeline into China’s That means the Russian-sponsored

Пресс-служба Президента Р Пресс-служба Президента but tends to shy away from direct mili- northeast, where China’s largest conven- customs union, the Eurasian Union, is less

diplomat and international canada 45 Di spatches|Russia resurgent enthusiastically embraced than it might So, while Sino-Russian trade has grown lomats and senior officials have explicitly be otherwise, and the post-Soviet Central almost 18 per cent per annum in recent ruled out such a development . Asian “stans” have been eager to embrace years, total trade is still less than $100 Limited Russia-China partnership the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, billion US, with Russia taking only about Ironically, the election of Trump has originally designed to secure the region’s two per cent of Chinese exports . While removed one of the major planks of post-Soviet borders, as an organization Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev China’s alignment with Russia . China has, promoting economic development un- pledged to more than double the Russia- with Russia, feared a hegemony of liberal der the sponsorship of China . The One China trade volume to $200 billion by values that would encourage civil society Belt- One Road (OBOR) or New Silk Road 2020, even this aspirational goal would activists that threaten “colour revolu- initiative promoted by Xi has further represent less than 10 per cent of China’s tions .” By rejecting this kind of liberal enhanced the prospects of economic co- total trade . Under any scenario, Sino-U .S . interventionism himself, Trump removed operation with China to the relative detri- trade would dwarf trade with Russia . one of the major factors underlining the ment of Moscow’s patronage in the region . There is no prospect under which mutual cosiness between Beijing and Moscow . In the Middle East, while China and trade could displace or replace respective Furthermore, for strategic reasons and Russia have together vetoed UN resolu- trade with Europe or the U .S . because of the environmental burden, tions condemning Syria, they are not en- China actively supports the UN and China needs to wean itself from a fossil tirely aligned . China has cultivated good UN peacekeeping, forges ahead in bilat- fuel-fed economy that Putin and Trump ties with the Saudi monarchy, its largest would like to see extended into the indefi- supplier of oil . Russia’s patronage of Syria nite future . puts it alongside Iran in the great religious China has its sights on a Thus, while the relationship between schism of Islam . stable global order with China and Russia is more than the “axis One area of significant, but eroding, of convenience” — as the British academic complementarity is the area of high tech- itself at its centre. Russia Bobo Lo termed it — it is neither as inti- nology weapons supplies and the supply strives to retain a role mate as some fear . Xi has met with Putin of weapons technology . Following the im- more often than with any other world as a great power through position of weapons embargoes on China leader, well over a dozen times since tak- after June 1989, in the waning days of the disruption. ing office in 2013, but limited economic Soviet Union, Russia became a major sup- complementarity and deep-seated sus- port for the modernization of the People’s picions bedevil the relationship . Many Liberation air force and navy . That sup- eral and regional multilateral free-trade Russians are still fearful that China has port continued under president Boris agreements, sponsors multilateral eco- designs on Russia’s sparsely populated Yeltsin and an independent Russia . This nomic development banks, including the Far East, most of it seized from China by included complete fighter aircraft, subma- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank 19th-Century “unequal” treaties . Chi- rines, destroyers and ancillary weapons and the BRICS New Development Bank nese businesses and businessmen have systems . (where Russia is a joint sponsor) . China regularly faced racially motivated harass- However, Russia became increasingly has its sights on a stable global order with ment in major Russian cities and, in some wary of Chinese efforts to reverse-engi- itself at its centre . Russia strives to retain a cases, have had their goods confiscated . neer Soviet weaponry and pirate Russian role as a great power through disruption . Still, polling shows Chinese and Russians intellectual property . China’s J-11 and J-15 It is telling that while Russia openly maintaining favourable views of each aircraft are near-clones of the Sukhoi Su-27 celebrated the election of Trump, China’s other in international relations and there and Sukhoi Su-33s sold to China . Intel- reaction was muted, even sombre . The is a lively exchange of tourism, with Rus- lectual property became the major sticking Chinese media did not cover the inau- sian students making up one of the largest point in negotiations to supply Sukhoi Su- guration live . Not only was Trump’s contingents of foreign students in China . 35s as an interim fifth-generation fighter challenge to China clear in his inaugu- This is a solid relationship, but not a aircraft . Today, China is emerging as a ration speech, China did not welcome feared anti-western bloc . Putin faces Xi as major weapons innovator on its own, just either the prospect of confrontation or the a self-professed Christian European, while as it earlier perfected expertise in rocketry . prospect of a new Trump-Putin axis . Xi Xi is an avowed Communist atheist who Russia still maintains a lead in advanced chose to have himself photographed with believes in Asia for the Asians . jet engines on which China relies for some Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko Where Russia noisily persecutes LGBT of its newest aircraft, but Russians have while attending the annual gathering at activities, China quietly tolerates depoliti- few illusions that they can maintain ex- Davos . This was a less than subtle mes- cized LGBT behaviour . ports into the future . sage that Russia and China’s interests are China and Russia may see eye to eye on not congruent . liberalism and opposition to Islamic fun- China-U.S. trade dwarfs China-Russia trade In the transactional world that Trump damentalism, but their hearts do not beat Nuclear energy is another area of co- has summoned up, it will take some time in unison . Russia and China may trade operation . Russia has supplied China with before future alignments settle down . and even conduct yearly joint military two reactors and plans have now been China has long relished a warm relation- exercises, but as the Chinese saying goes, made for another two . Again, Chinese ship with Germany and German Chancel- “same bed, different dreams .” reliance on Russian technology is likely lor Angela Merkel that is no less cherished to decline over time, as China strengthens than its relationship with Russia . It would Jeremy Paltiel is professor of political sci- technical co-operation with France’s Areva be foolish and patently wrong to imagine ence at Carleton University, specializing and comes up with its own indigenous a Russia-China alignment, still less an in Chinese politics and the politics of designs . alliance, aimed at the west . Chinese dip- East Asia .

46 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Russia resurgent|Di spatches Financial crises; no lessons learned By Mikhail Zherebtsov

n many countries, economic crises Monthly average crude oil prices. often result in political transforma- Itions . In some instances, they lead to cabinet shuffles or even changes of government . They can also give rise to substantial changes in the economic course of a country, as policy priorities shift to counter negative economic trends . Active and effective actions by governments are often crucial in this context . While true for many countries, Russia seems to be the exception in this case . In 2014, the Russian economy fell into a full-scale crisis for a second time in 10 years . The first crisis was a result of the global financial meltdown of 2008-2010 and demonstrated the dependence of Russia’s economy on high hydrocarbon prices . The factors that led to the second crisis were twofold . On the one hand, it was a decline of more than two thirds in the Data provided by http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Rate/Historical_Oil_Prices_Table.asp price of oil from slightly more than $100 per barrel in March 2014 to as low as $30 in February 2016 . On the other hand, it the asymmetrical response to anti-Rus- removal of the embargo on Iranian oil, was sanctions, limiting and prohibiting sian policies . Officially, they were in- contributed to the significant decline in some international economic activities . troduced in order to protect domestic oil prices . Revenues from the energy sec- They were imposed on certain Russian producers from unfair competition im- tor, however, are an important component public figures and, more important, state- posed by the west through its sanctions . in the income structure of the Russian affiliated economic enterprises in response The most significant part of these coun- budget . To compensate for such a loss, to the Russian annexation of Crimea in ter sanctions was a large-scale ban on the government had two main options: It early 2014 . importing various food products, includ- could either propose a budget sequestra- Many OECD countries, including the ing meat, fish, dairy products and veg- tion and thus reduce public expenses, or, U S. ., Canada, and, more important, the etables from Europe . While some may alternatively, it could allow the national European Union member states, imposed treat this as a purely political move by currency to decline . restrictions, which, for example, pro- a Russian ruling elite upset at the reac- The first neo-conservative approach hibited banks and financial institutions tions of other world leaders, others re- was fraught with the risk of increasing mentioned in the ban from applying for gard this as an opportunity for Russia social tension . Other options, which in- credit in these countries’ banks or borrow- to finally implement long-term plans to cluded borrowing on global financial mar- ing money by means of issuing bonds and modernize, diversify and re-industrial- kets or using internal reserves were not other securities on international markets . ize its national economy . feasible under the given circumstances . In addition, these countries also prohib- Cumulatively, these actions have had a On the one hand, global financial markets ited companies residing on their own ter- somewhat significant impact on the Rus- were restricted due to sanctions; on the ritory from investing in projects controlled sian economy . The steady recovery from other hand, attempts to rely on internal by Russian companies . But perhaps the the global financial crisis, fuelled by sky- reserves proved ineffective during the larger impact on the dynamics of the Rus- rocketing oil prices, was abruptly halted, previous crisis . Hence, the Russian Central sian economy in the post-annexation pe- predominantly by the tectonic shifts in Bank chose to abolish the soft target of riod came from the counter sanctions that global energy markets . Numerous factors, the ruble to the U .S . dollar and the euro the Russian government imposed against including innovative excavation methods, in late 2014 . Whether intentionally or not, certain economic sectors and industries the growth of alternative and renewable by liberating the exchange rate, the Cen- of western, predominantly European, energy sectors, especially in Europe, Rus- tral Bank and the government of Russia countries . sia’s main market for hydrocarbons, as were able to compensate for the decline of Russian counter sanctions hallmarked well as geopolitical factors, such as the global oil prices and maintain high levels

diplomat and international canada 47 Di spatches|Russia resurgent

GDP of Russia in rubles (RUB) (in constant prices of 2011) vs annual average RUB/USD rate the current global trends and the counter sanctions as an opportunity to finally fulfil the long-awaited policies aimed at acceler- ating industrial growth, import substitution, and the increase of food security . The very same ideas hovered in the air in 2008, when the global financial crisis began . Modernization of the national economy was the main slogan of the Dmitry Med- vedev presidency (2008-12) . The idea was to focus on certain innovative and high-tech industrial spheres and secure governmental budgetary support in order to ensure the flow of investment into these sectors . Yet the plans were a fiasco . The innovation fund, known as Skolkovo and also referred to as the Russian Silicon Val- ley, failed to achieve substantial progress, revealing many cases of misappropriation of budgetary funds . Responding to the challenges that Oil prices relevant to the ruble rate emerged in 2014, the Russian government focused on import substitution, particu- Brent Price RUB:USD Brent Price Decline of Decline of Date larly emphasizing growth in the agricul- (USD) (RUB) (RUB) price in USD price in RUB tural sector, the perennial stumbling block of all economic reforms . In some areas, the 2014-03-04 $ 109.17 36.38 3,971.43 -- % -- % lack of international competition and the development of certain consumer niches 2015-03-04 $ 59.18 62.36 3,690.75 54% 93% spurred domestic production . In nominal indicators, growth was even detected in 2016-03-04 $ 37.61 73.82 2,776.53 34% 70% the majority of agricultural spheres, especially livestock, dairy and crops . However, 2017-02-10 $ 56.70 58.22 3,301.25 52% 83% in almost all other sectors, productivity indices (relative to the previous year) have declined since 2014, magnified by the growing deterioration of basic production of budget revenues in rubles . The situation also affected the anxiety assets . Since mid-2014, the Russian ruble has and societal expectations of ordinary citi- The fact that the Kremlin’s plan for lost almost half its value in comparison to zens . The Levana-Centre, an independent import substitution does not work as the U .S . dollar . The decision of the Central public opinion research institute, indicated expected could be illustrated through Bank, however, had an immediate impact these changes in its regular reports . Thus, the cash-flow dynamics of the National on ordinary Russians . In a resource-ori- by 2016, almost a third of the entire popu- Reserve Fund . Launched in 2004 as the ented economy, the welfare of its citizens lation had spoken on the significant im- Stabilization Fund against the backdrop is highly dependent on the purchasing pact of the economic crisis . Indeed, more of rising oil prices, it was designed to power of the national currency . With the than two thirds admitted that there is a compensate the deficit of the national rapid deterioration of the ruble’s value, crisis and expect it will last longer than the budget should oil prices go down . As the inflation and consumer prices increased previous one . As people cut their personal economic situation has deteriorated, use substantially, not only on imported prod- and family budgets, they also refuse en of the fund has grown, reducing it consid- ucts, but also on domestically produced masse to commit to large and long-term erably to approximately one per cent of goods . In 2014 and 2015, the inflation rate purchases . For example, 2016 was the GDP today . doubled and reached an annual maximum fourth consecutive year of declines facing Reflecting on the conditions of the of 12 .9 per cent in 2015 . the national automobile market . Starting Russian economy and the government’s The food embargo only negatively in 2013, sales dropped five per cent in attempts to manage the crisis, many contributed to the situation, artificially comparison to the previous year, declining expressed quite pessimistic views . A decreasing the quantity of available goods, 10 .4 per cent in 2014 . They plummetted in majority of respondents to a PriceWater- as plans for substituting the nomencla- 2015 by 35 .7 per cent and fell 11 per cent in houseCoopers Russia study pointed out ture of imported items with domestically 2016 . Cumulatively, this represents a 51 3. negative trends in the Russian economy, produced ones did not quickly come to -per-cent decline in the automobile market specifically the rise in prices for purchased fruition . As a result, retail prices for the between 2014 and 2016 . materials (77 per cent), decline in demand majority of essential food products grew At the same time, the ruling political (62 per cent), and the inability to finance by 11-24 per cent annually in 2014 and elite does not share the pessimistic views new projects (53 per cent) . 2015 . While the trend has decreased for on the Russian economy that are reflected Overall, Russian business draws a pes- 2016, it has not reversed . in public opinion polls . Instead, they see simistic picture of the consequences of the

48 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Russia resurgent|Di spatches crisis for the national economy . First, there Annual inflation (consumer prices) rates in Russia (per cent to the previous year) are low expectations from import substitution to spur economic growth . In addition to this, they expect that the two almost consecutive crises will change the habits and behaviour of consumers from spending to saving . Finally, the introduction of sanctions and the subsequent reaction of the Krem- lin divided academics into two separate and seemingly irreconcilable camps . The liberal opposition camp described future development in terms of “the battle between the fridge and the TV set .” They argue that the continuous deterioration of economic conditions would inevitably and negatively affect the welfare of ordinary citizens and, subsequently, result in the growth of discontent that would shake the stability of Putin’s political regime . Need- less to say, they see Russia’s development The data provided by the Rosstat – Russian Statistical Agency. in the context of the conventional global paradigm, linking growth and prosperity of the country to its inclusion in the global Cumulative cash flow dynamics of the Russian Reserve Fund. market through multiple international co- operation agreements and trade unions . Conventional logic implies that international competition, combined with proper infrastructural reforms would foster diversification and ensure the growth of the national economy . Any deviation from such a path is baneful . Sergei Guriev, the chief economist of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and the former president of the Russian Economic School, an independent Moscow-based university, argues that while sanctions deteriorate the economic conditions in Russia, the major cause has been declining oil and other commodity prices and Russia’s dependence on them . This opinion was echoed by another famous Russian econ- Data provided by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. omist and current University of Chicago professor, Konstantin Sonin . He argues, in his paper “Two Crises: 2014 and 1991” that the current measures of the gov- focusing solely on economic indicators . processes and the genuine discontent of ernment will not be successful without They came up with a rather paradoxical most of the Russian people about the poli- contract law, independent courts, non- hypothesis that the combination of such tics of western countries towards Russia corrupt police, accountable government factors as the economic sanctions, fall create fertile soil for growing the seeds of and free media . in oil prices, the outflow of capital and propaganda fast enough and maintain- Such views have been opposed by an devaluation of the ruble may lead to the ing high levels of personal support for impressive group of economists, led by fact that, according to Russian economist the political leaders, especially President Sergey Glaziev, the presidential adviser for Vladimir Popov, “Russia may finally see Vladimir Putin . However, by focusing on economic affairs . They criticize and accuse an acceleration of growth .” the foreign policy agenda, the Russian the government and the Central Bank of As often occurs, the actual develop- leadership ignores the need for structural implementing liberal monetary policies ments disproved the forecasts of both reforms, especially anti-corruption mea- that result in the freefall of the national camps . The truth appeared somewhere in sures, which are crucial to assure steady currency and subsequent freeze of cash between the two opposing views . The re- economic growth . flow in real sectors . They tend to disregard ality showed that the crisis didn’t prompt the crucial importance of political insti- political changes and elite rotation, nor Mikhail Zherebtsov is a post-doctoral fel- tutional factors, emphasized by their op- did the government measures spur eco- low at Carleton University’s Institute of ponents from the liberal economic camp, nomic growth . Volatility of global political European, Russian and Eurasian Studies .

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52 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Country rankings in EDUCATION|Di spatches

The learning curve

A good education system is at the core of a country’s success. We list the leaders in science, math and reading, according to a study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

By Wolfgang Depner

very year since 2000, the Or- Education policy-makers and experts also contend that its narrow quantitative ganization for Economic Co- from around the world pay attention to methodology has fuelled an obsession operation and Development PISA and its competitor, Trends in Inter- with standardized testing that threatens to (OECD) has tested school national Mathematics and Science Study reduce the entire educational experience children’s aptitudes around (TIMSS) . These scores are, for better or to a deadening cycle of test taking and test the world and compressed worse, deeply influential . Countries with preparation at the expense of less measur- Ethe results into a ranking, or score . In cer- strong PISA scores are likely to flaunt able or even immeasurable educational tain circles, the much-anticipated release them . Those with mediocre or low scores objectives, such as citizenship . of these rankings generates a wide range are likely to fret over them . Germany, for The list of PISA detractors is long and of emotions among education experts, example, experienced nothing less than a illustrious . The most public expression of reactions The Economist likened to the PISA shock when its 2000 scores showed their opposition came in May 2014 when quadrennial World Cup of soccer . its fragmented education system was lack- the Guardian published a letter of opposi- The Programme for International Stu- lustre compared to its OECD competitors . tion signed by more than 100 education dent Assessment — known globally by its Germany, in turn, responded by revising scholars from around the world . acronym PISA — is the tool with which its education policies . Today, it finds itself Thousands of other scholars have since the OECD measures academic achieve- near the Top 10 . joined them in decrying the “PISA regime” ments of OECD and non-OECD countries PISA, in other words, can point out that stresses out students and teachers by testing 15-year-old students in three deficiencies that policy-makers can then while violating “widely accepted prin- categories: science, mathematics and read- remedy — or so supporters say . For critics, ciples of good educational and democratic ing . PISA testing takes place every three the German example actually highlights practices .” As the letter noted, no “reform years . Each round focuses on one of three precisely what is wrong with PISA . Ac- of any consequence should be based on a categories, without neglecting the others . cording to this critical perspective, PISA single narrow measure of equality” and In 2015, for example, PISA focused on sci- focuses on the narrow perspective that ed- “no reform of any consequences should ig- ence, and 540,000 students from 72 coun- ucation serves the sole purpose of training nore the important role of non-educational tries participated . youth for the workforce . Critics of PISA factors among which a nation’s socio-

diplomat and international canada 53 Di spatches|Country rankings in EDUCATION economic quality should be paramount .” These concerns are not without merit and should not be ignored . This said, PISA scores enjoy some measure of legitimacy and this list recognizes the countries whose participating 15-year-olds secured the highest science scores, in line with PISA’s focus on scientific literacy . What does this list show? Three things stand out . First, Asian countries dominate . Second, most of the countries on this list show some commitment to ensuring socio-economic equality . Third, education systems are deeply embedded in the social fabric and history of any country . This, of course, means countries cannot simply copy from each other, but must instead develop their own policies . 1. Singapore: 556 (No. 1 in math, No. 1 in reading) To appreciate the scientific literacy of students in Singapore, consider the following: The OECD average score is 490 . Scoring 30 points above that average represents an additional year of education . By this measure, students in Singapore are approximately two years ahead of their American peers, who scored 496 . And it is not just in science . Singapore students also dominate math and reading . What accounts for Singapore’s success? Singapore scored 63 points above the global average, making its students about two years ahead of Several points stand out . First, Singapore their American peers. underscores the theory that the quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers and educational titude, attitude and personality to be 2. Japan: 538 leaders, as the OECD said in 2012 . This effective teachers . Candidates must then (No. 2 in science, No. 5 in math) means, among other things, that superior complete a training stint that further as- Not all that glitters is gold . This aphorism school systems have more stringent selec- sesses their suitability prior to their initial might well apply to Japan’s education sys- tion mechanisms for future teachers than training . Those who fail to complete it tem . In 2016, Japan confirmed its perennial inferior school systems . As McKinsey must either withdraw or extend their stint place near the top of the PISA rankings, & Co . wrote in a 2007 report, superior for further assessment . finishing second in science and fifth in systems recognize a “bad selection deci- Sing Kong Lee, vice-president of Nan- math among 72 countries or regions . The sion can result in up to 40 years of bad yang Technological University, told the Japan Times says this ranking likely reflects teaching .” Accordingly, Singapore has BBC that this training system ensures the method of delivering math education . developed a singular statewide selection quality control and creates a consistent ap- Japanese teachers cover fewer topics, process for all applicants to the National proach . Singapore also expects teachers to but in more depth than teachers in coun- Institute of Education (NIE), an autono- continue their professional development tries with lower scores . Teachers also rely mous institute at Nanyang Technological throughout their career . As the OECD says, on jugyokenkyu, a term that describes a University, the only school that trains teachers are the “pillars” of Singapore’s process during which teachers first plan future teachers . This selection process education system . But if Singapore asks their lessons . They then deliver them to consists of several stages that stress the a lot of its teachers, it also rewards teach- audiences composed of students and other following criteria, according to McKinsey ing with corresponding prestige and pay . teachers, while at least one university & Co :. academic achievement, communi- According to a 2014 paper by Lim Kam observer assesses the performances of the cation and motivation for teaching . Ming of the NIE, Singapore’s ministry of teachers, who then receive feedback . But if Singapore limits recruitment of fu- education regularly reviews the salaries for Japanese teachers receive room to reflect ture teachers to the top one third of each teachers to ensure that their remuneration on their own performance, their students graduating cohort . A two-stage selection remains competitive with other profes- face immense pressure to perform . Stu- process follows . Candidates are first short- sional salaries . The median starting gross dents and their parents expend much listed according to university admission salary for teachers is 41,976 Singapore energy and expense to meet the high aca- standards . Those who pass this screening dollars, a figure comparable to the median demic standards that Japanese society sets . then undergo interviews to determine starting gross salary for aerospace engi- Starting as early as elementary school,

whether they possess the necessary ap- neers (42,000) and accountants (40,200) . students start to attend Juku private K omogorov | D reamstime. c om l av © S tanis

54 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Country rankings in EDUCATION|Di spatches

schools outside of regular school time to who will wield the weapon . In August a source of best practices in education . Ex- prepare themselves for the entrance ex- 2016, a 48-year-old Japanese man killed ceptions, however, include the three Baltic aminations into the country’s top public his 12-year-old son with a kitchen knife af- states, of which the smallest, Estonia, with universities . Attending the latter is con- ter the boy failed to study for an entrance a population of about 1 .3 million, has sidered by many as a stepping stone into exam into a leading private school . emerged as a global leader . the leading segment of Japanese society . Estonia’s performance appears es- To this end, parents pay tidy sums each 3. Estonia: 534 pecially impressive in light of its eth- month to give their progeny an added ad- (No. 3 in science, No. 6 in reading) nic diversity (almost 25 per cent of its vantage against the competition . Almost three decades after the fall of the population is Russian) and low per-capita Iron Curtain, most of the former Soviet gross domestic product (GDP) of $28,140 Bloc countries still lag behind the eco- US compared to the OECD average of nomic and social standards of western $39,333 US . Europe . In fact, by some political mea- Estonia’s current PISA scores (3rd sures, some parts of the region (Hungary, in science, 6th in reading, 9th in math) Poland) have regressed and Russia has continue their upward trend from 2012 emerged as an authoritarian inspiration (6th in science, 11th in reading and math) around the world . and confirm the opinion of many experts So the region as a whole is not exactly about the importance of equality and con-

Japanese teachers cover fewer topics, but in more depth than teachers in countries with lower scores than Japan.

In fact, unceasing competition defines the educational experience of Japanese students from an early age, a condition that has caused personal and public harm . The intensity of the Japanese school system robs students of the social free- doms their western peers take for granted . Laments about the lack of opportunities for students to release their pent-up frus- trations through sports or other channels are growing and the conformist culture of Japanese schools encourages bullying . y | D reamstime. c om Worse, parents regularly contribute to these conditions . Disputes between parents and their children over school frequently contribute to depression and suicides among school-aged children . Ac- cording to research published by the Wil- son Quarterly in 2015, one in 12 Japanese elementary school-aged children and one in four junior high school students suffers from clinical depression . According to this same research, the opening day of school (usually Sept . 1) is also the day when Japa- nese children are most likely to kill them- Estonia may be small, with just 1.3 million inhabitants, but it is mighty when it comes to its educational rigour. © D e u s0416 | reamstime. c om / P eter Mu zs l a selves . Sometimes it is parents themselves

diplomat and international canada 55 Di spatches| Country rankings in EDUCATION sistency in educational policy-making . cation, speech therapy and various forms This imperative, coupled with cul- Estonian schools try to offer all stu- of counselling . tural factors that stress the importance of dents, regardless of their ethnic or eco- While the small population of Estonia studying, is one of the reasons Taiwanese nomic background, the same educational raises questions about the transferability students belong to the global elite when experience . For example, Estonia dedi- of its educational policies, it has helped it comes to mathematics . As the OECD cated additional resources to Russian- it surpass more powerful and prosperous notes, more than one in four Taiwanese language schools after the first PISA nations, at least when it comes to educa- students are among the top-performing assessments of 2006 showed the average tion . students in mathematics . Mainland China, science, reading and mathematics scores Hong Kong and Singapore have similar of Russian-language students lagged 4. Taiwan: 532 ratios . significantly behind those of students in (No. 4 math, No. 4 in science) High-quality education is essential Estonian-language schools . These efforts Let us first consider the bad news . Tai- to Taiwan’s political economy, but its ensured Russian-language students and wanese students recorded lower scores educational system has had a history of their teachers would become more profi- for their reading abilities than during inflexibility, a condition partially rooted in cient users of Estonian, thereby allowing their last assessment, dropping from 7th the political culture, as a 2016 article in the teachers in Russian-language schools to to finish 23rd . Notably, this drop marks a journal Asia-Pacific Science Education states . fully participate in professional develop- reversal, something experts have blamed Drawing heavily on Confucian values ment . on changes to the computer-administered and ethics such as loyalty, piety, harmony, Estonia also instituted measures to sup- test that had doubled the number of peace, self-cultivation and respect for the port weaker students or students with questions and their nature towards more elderly, Taiwan’s political culture was less privileged socio-economic profiles . open-ended ones that are generally more undeniably authoritarian from its found- Students undergo annual interviews that challenging . This said, Taiwan retained ing in 1949 until 1994, when Taiwanese assess their progress and schools must its strong science and math scores, finish- citizens staged a mass demonstration, de- help those with unsatisfactory reviews . ing fourth in both categories . For Taiwan, manding the removal of the Kuomintang Estonia has also offered all of its students these numbers are not just a source of government . Among the “pioneering endeavours” of Taiwan’s democratic transition have been a series of ongoing educational reforms that sought to decentralize “Taiwan’s highly regulated traditional education system to foster teacher and student autonomy .” As the CIEB notes, Taiwan’s education system stands accused of “putting too much pressure on students and focusing too heavily on exams and memorization rather than creativity .” Taiwan’s science education has been accordingly more personalized and oriented towards problem-solving . While this pedagogical transition has encountered resistance from some sections of the educational community, including parents still wedded to Confucian principles, many consider it vital as Taiwan’s economy transitions from one that is labour-intensive towards one based on knowledge and its practical application . 5. Finland: 531 (No. 12 in math, No. 4 in reading) Where to Invade Next? is a documentary movie in which American filmmaker and liberal provocateur Michael Moore visits Taiwan retained its strong science and math scores, finishing fourth in both categories. places around the world to see what, if anything, the United States could learn from the locals . During his travels, Moore free hot lunches, study books and learn- pride, but essential . As the Washington, visits Finland to study its education sys- ing material since 2006 to promote equal D .C .-based think-tank Center on Interna- tem . While those familiar with Moore’s access to education . All Estonian schools tional Education Benchmarking (CIEB) style of story-telling will likely find his have staff who co-ordinate services for suggests, Taiwan depends on a highly account saccharine, if not simplistic, his students with special needs and students educated workforce to compete in the interest in the ins and outs of Finnish edu- at risk of dropping out receive personal- global economy in light of its limited natu- cation speaks to a global interest in this

ized services, such as special needs edu- ral resources . system . | D reamstime. c om © A nna M art y nova

56 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Country rankings in EDUCATION|Di spatches

a special administrative region under an agreement that promised considerable autonomy under the formula of “one country, two systems .” This arrangement allowed Macau to operate its education system independently of China . Notably, Macau did not develop a unified education system until the late 1980s because its Portuguese colonial government showed little interest in the subject . What existed instead was what Tang Kwok-Chun and Mark Bray, writing in the Journal of Edu- cational Administration, called “an unco- ordinated poly-centered collection of systems” that had arrived from Portugal, the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, “with different rules for each ”. Private and denominational schools flourished and public contributions to education were among the lowest in the world . In 1975, education received 2 .2 per cent of total government spending . By 1983, that figure reached 5 .3 per cent, still Finnish educational policies have made a point of creating equal opportunities for students from a one of the lowest in the world . Change, wide variety of backgrounds. however, occurred from the outside . As Kwok-Chun and Bray write, the “stron- One supposed reason for its exemplary 6. Macau, China: 529 gest stimulus to rectify the government’s nature lies in its foundation . As Pasi (No. 3 in math, No. 12 in reading) neglect of education came from the 1987 Sehlberg, director-general of the Centre Located 50 kilometres west of Hong Kong, Sino-Portuguese declaration” leading to for International Mobility and Coopera- this former Portuguese colony is home the return of Macau to China . tion, wrote in the American Educator (2012), to 650,000 people who share a space of “The government,” they write, “identi- “education in Finland was nothing special 28 square kilometres . This combination fied education as an important ingredient in international terms .” Finnish students makes Macau one of the most densely for stability and transition to the post- finished close to the average in various populated spots on the planet . It rejoined colonial era, and the public demanded assessments at the beginning of the 1990s . the People’s Republic of China in 1999 as greater government inputs in order to Economic changes during this period pushed Finland into financial difficulties, a condition that initiated far-ranging reforms that propelled Finland up the PISA ladder . Finnish educational policies have historically prioritized creating equal opportunities . Students from a wide variety of backgrounds, often with very different personal stories, learn together . Second, school curriculums mandate career guidance and counselling, a move designed to minimize the possibility that students end up making the wrong educational choices . Third, the Finnish system eschews standard tests and assessments in favour of personalized learning and support . Sehlberg, however, warns against unreal- istic expectations . Finland’s educational system is part and parcel of its larger societal model favouring high measures of consensus and socio-economic equality . “One lesson from Finland is, therefore, that successful change and good educational performance often require improvements in social, employment and Macau matched its previous mathematics scores while exceeding its earlier scores in scientific literacy and reading. © M i c ha l K nit | D reamstime. om / TIN ho C. economic sectors,” Sehlberg writes .

diplomat and international canada 57 Di spatches|Country rankings in EDUCATION strengthen local identity .” Policies that control over education to the provinces, province to province in reflecting the unified and standardized the education notwithstanding some exceptions . So Can- social, religious and linguistic diversity system on the way towards a compulsory ada lacks the formal constitutional means of Canada, both provincial and federal free system followed . This process has not to readily centralize and control education spheres co-operate in a number of areas, been without difficulties . Private interests policy on a national level, as is the case especially social transfers, whereby the have remained powerful players in Ma- with the other entries on this list . federal government provides financial cau’s educational system and the place of The advantages of a more national ap- support to the provinces through four ma- Portuguese, which “does not have strong proach are apparent . It ensures uniformity jor channels: the Canada Health Transfer international status,” remains contested . and responsiveness while easing imple- (CHT), the Canada Social Transfer (CST), This said, Macau’s educational system has mentation, whereas the opposite encour- Equalization and Territorial Formula Fi- been near the top of the PISA rankings for ages particularism and provincialism . But nancing . some time . if some educational policy-makers ques- The first duo consists of conditional The most recent ranking marks the fifth tion the effects of federalism, it has not transfers that help pay for specific services time Macau has participated in PISA . This prevented Canada from joining the ranks (health care, post-secondary education, time around, Macau matched its previous of global educational powerhouses . This social assistance and social services, early mathematics score, while exceeding its fact has not gone unnoticed in the United childhood development and child-care .) scores for scientific literacy and reading . States, where the role of the federal gov- The second amounts to unconditional ernment in education remains controver- grants to poorer provinces so they can 7. Canada: 528 sial in light of the country's consistently provide residents with services that are (No. 3 in reading, No. 10 in math) mediocre, if not sub-par, performance . reasonably comparable to those elsewhere Our list so far has featured countries that On the opposite side of this debate, and taxes that are also reasonably com- tend to be small, if not minuscule in terms a long-standing proposal to federalize parable . This fiscal federalism ensures of population, size or both . Canada, with education policy in Germany continues to relatively similar standards of living its continental land mass and low popu- encounter opposition from the 16 Länder across the country and, more important, lation density, breaks this pattern . It also (federal states). provides a social safety net for parents and breaks another pattern . It is the first and A closer look, though, reveals that the their children . only federal state on this list . Virtually Canadian experience remains unique . As the CIEB notes in its assessment of every federation assigns jurisdictional While the education system differs from the Canadian system, “[with] concerns

In Canada, thanks to health care and basic incomes, students are more able to focus on academic performance and are less likely to leave school early in

pursuit of full-time work. © Freds | D reamstime. c om

58 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Country rankings in EDUCATION|Di spatches

about health care and basic income removed, parents and students are more able to focus on academic performance and students are less likely to leave school at an early age to pursue full-time work .” The latest PISA report praised this aspect of the Canadian education system by noting that Canada belongs to a handful of countries that balance high educational performances with high equity in educational opportunities . That is not to say that these spending programs are not problematic . They are a constant source of political friction between the federal government and the provinces and among the provinces . It should also be noted that the performance of Canadian students varies by region . While B .C ., Alberta and Ontario generally lead the pack, the Atlantic provinces often bring up the rear .

8. Vietnam: 525 (No. 8 in science, No. 22 in math) When this Asian country first participated in PISA in 2012, the results were shocking — as in shockingly good . Its 15-year-old students finished 19th in reading, 17th in mathematics and 8th in science, as Viet- Vietnam's basic literacy and numeracy skills have helped Vietnamese workers transition from low- nam finished above the OECD average . productivity agricultural jobs to non-farm jobs. This placing meant it outpaced powerful, prosperous G7 countries such as the U S. . and Britain . While the most recent results ued strong economic growth will require 9. Hong Kong: 523 (China) showed some slippage, they confirmed increased labour productivity and a (No. 2 in math, No. 2 in reading) that the Vietnamese continue to outper- workforce with the skills to match the Call it a case of complaining on a high form their western peers on several scores . job market ”. Recommendations include level . The fact that Hong Kong stu- They finished 8th in science, 22nd measures that promote the development dents finished 9th in PISA science scores in mathematics and 23rd in reading . of technical and cognitive skills, such as prompted not only headlines (“Hong Vietnam’s performance puzzles experts critical thinking . Kong slips to new low in international because it runs counter to traditional Yet for all of these critiques, Vietnam’s ranking for student performance in sci- theories . While the economy of Vietnam PISA ranking offers several important ence” — South China Morning Post) but is becoming more productive and mod- lessons . First, Vietnamese society values also some soul searching among members ern, it remains relatively poor . Education teaching and teachers . Second, school cur- of the educational community in this spe- theory consistently links educational riculums focus on core concepts . In short, cial administrative region of the People’s achievement with prosperity . Schooling Vietnamese students study fewer things Republic of China . “I do not think this is far from universal, while corruption is in more depth than their western peers . means Hong Kong students have a low rampant . Rote learning and memorization Third, Vietnamese parents appear much ability in science,” Esther Ho Sui-chu, were the dominant pedagogical tech- more involved than elsewhere . While this director of the Centre for International niques . These concerns have resonated phenomenon also bears dangers, it speaks Student Assessment in Hong Kong, told throughout the literature . to the value that Asian societies attach to the South China Morning Post . “We have Consider a 2014 World Bank report . On advancement through education . Fourth, always been in the world’s top 10 in all one hand, it notes that basic literacy and and perhaps most remarkably, Vietnamese three assessed aspects .” numeracy skills have “helped Vietnamese students are resilient . This point certainly speaks to the qual- workers move from low-productivity agri- As the OECD notes, the poorest stu- ity of the Hong Kong education system . culture into higher-productivity non-farm dents in Vietnam (along with students It — like Macau’s — reflects the colonial jobs . This has promoted rapid economic from Macau) “outperform the most ad- history of Hong Kong . growth and poverty reduction .” vantaged students in about 20 other PISA- This obvious point of similarity, how- Today, it continues, “Vietnamese work- participating countries and economies .” In ever, obscures significant differences be- ers perform better in reading than workers short, Vietnamese students are not going tween the former Portuguese (Macau) and in other countries, including wealthier to let difficult conditions get in the way on the former British (Hong Kong) colonies . ones .” There is still room for improve- their road towards success . Their aspira- Whereas private interests initially domi-

diplomat and international canada 59 Di spatches|Country rankings in EDUCATION Top 10 educational laggards

his list highlights, if ever so briefly, world championship) as measured by its between students of different socio- the respective PISA science scores of trade surplus . logical groups (Hebrew-speakers versus Tnotable countries . They include the Arab-speakers; students from prosperous remaining members of the G7 outside of 25. United States: 496 backgrounds versus students from poor the Top 10, Australia (a prominent, pros- Third from the bottom among the G7 backgrounds) were significant . Accord- perous member of the English-speaking countries, the United States finds itself in ing to The Jerusalem Post, “across all areas world), Russia, Israel, as well as emerging the middle of an ideological debate over tested, Israel showed results with the larg- powers such as Indonesia and Brazil . No the role of the federal government in edu- est range of grades in the world .” PISA scores are available for India . This cation . Common Core — an initiative de- list is admittedly arbitrary, but likely signed to create common standards across 65. Indonesia: 403 more interesting, insofar that it shows the entire country — confronts its pending With a population of almost 250 million, that some of the world’s powerful nations demise just a few years after its introduc- Indonesia is the fourth most populous are not all what they are cracked up to be . tion . PISA administrators and Democrats country on the planet . Yet, for all of its eco- generally praise it, but the Republicans, 14. Australia: 510 who control Washington, D .C ., these days, The 2015 PISA results prompted Austra- despise it . lian Education Minister Simon Birming- ham to point out that the country still 27. France: 495 remained ahead of the OECD average . Social inequality, be it the absence or But if this was the good news, he also presence thereof, appears in the litera- acknowledged Australia’s results “contin- ture as one, if not the, defining factor in ued to paint a worrying trend” as scores educational outcomes . It is therefore pain- across all three categories have fallen fully ironic that the state founded on the again . principle of égalité has the most inequi- table educational system . In other words, 15. United Kingdom: 509 social background, not talent, determines If one were to rank the PISA scores of the whether French students succeed or not . seven most industrialized countries (G7), the United Kingdom would be the best of 32. Russia: 487 the rest outside Japan (2nd) and Canada What to make of Russian education? That (7th) . But as it prepares for a more global is the question looming in light of conflict- orientation following Brexit, educational ing data . According to PISA’s competitor, leaders such as Brett Wigdortz, CEO and Trends in International Mathematics and founder of the educational advocacy Science Study, Russian students easily group Teach First, are adamant that the crack the Top 10 when it comes to math UK educational system still leaves much and science . According to PISA, the coun- room for improvement, especially in try has a mediocre record . Obviously, dif- According to PISA, Russian education has a the training and recruitment of science, ferent testing methodologies are liable to mediocre record. technology, engineering and math teach- produce different results . Yet the question ers . “This issue,” wrote Wigdortz in The remains . Which of these is “alternative Telegraph, “is only going to become more fact?” nomic gains, the quality of the country’s pressing as we increasingly need a highly education system has yet to catch up with skilled workforce to compete in a post- 34. Italy: 481 its economic progress . As the The Jakarta Brexit world .” The worst PISA performer of the G7 Post reports, the 2015 PISA scores show countries, Italy finds itself in the middle “Indonesia is still struggling ”. In fact, 15. Germany: 509 of a political and economic malaise that Indonesian students overall “do not seem As mentioned, Germany’s PISA results has lasted for years, if not decades . While to value or see opportunities in becoming triggered comprehensive educational the causes and symptoms of this crisis are a scientist .” reforms in the country of self-professed many, it is hard not to find a relationship poets and thinkers . But questions remain . between the country’s high levels of youth 66. Brazil: 401 They include, among others, the ques- unemployment and its struggling educa- The most populous country of Latin tion of whether Germany’s decentralized tion system, especially in the south . America is perhaps indicative of the prob- educational system will be able to accom- lems that confront education on that conti- modate the recent influx of asylum seek- 40. Israel: 467 nent . Brazil performs substantially below ers . The answer to that question might go Overall, Israel is trending up when it the average across all categories, including a long way towards determining whether comes to its PISA science score . But the science . Social inequality is a defining Europe’s most powerful economy will re- country as a whole continues to lag be- feature of the education system and the

tain another title: Weltexportmeister (export hind the OECD average and the gaps society at large . l a | D reamstime. c om © A nnatami

60 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Country rankings in EDUCATION|Di spatches

weaker students and giving schools plenty of notice to prepare . Some reports speak of teachers drill- ing students well into the night . Zhao has also argued in his book, Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World, that the Chinese system fosters cultural and political habits that are authoritarian in nature . As he told The New York Times in a 2014 interview, the Chinese system is “centrally dictated, uniformly pro- grammed and constantly monitored by standardized tests .” Accordingly, it is unlikely to “value individual talents, respect students’ interests and passion, cultivate creativity or entrepreneurial thinking, or

Hong Kong's education system has become more flexible since the territory rejoined China in 1997.

state has always dominated the education China’s most populous urban area and system of Hong Kong . economic centre . Home to about 25 mil- Few Hong Kong schools qualify as gen- lion people, Shanghai contributes to about uine public schools operated and funded one eighth of the economy . Given its by the state, but the government controls wealth, it is therefore not surprising that virtually all aspects of education, such as the local education system would produce curriculum guidelines, classroom content rather high PISA scores across all catego- and teacher education . ries, including science . In fact, during the As Tang Kwok-Chun and Mark Bray two previous PISA tests, Shanghai had write, this dominance reflects a historical topped all three categories . choice by colonial administrators to use This time around though, three other Previously, only Shanghai participated in PISA the education system as a shield against provinces — Beijing, Jiangsu and Guang- but this year, Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangdong whichever political ideology was prevail- dong — joined Shanghai in submitting to also took the tests and in the process, lowered ing on the Chinese mainland, be it the the PISA examinations . In doing so, they China's score. Nationalists during the first half of the depressed the Chinese performance . This 20th Century, or the Communists after the development surprised experts inside foster the development of non-cognitive Second World War . and outside of China, who had previously capacities .” While Hong Kong’s education sys- predicted that the addition of three new Yet it is those very things — creativity, tem has become more flexible since the provinces would not significantly dam- passion and social-emotional well-being territory rejoined China in 1997, it has age China’s reputation as an educational — that will matter in the economy of the remained committed to ensuring equal ac- leader . And it might not have . Chinese future, he argues . In short, Zhao accuses cess to educational opportunities . society has historically placed a high value the Chinese education system of draining on education and major cities (such as the life out of students, with consequences Shanghai) are important education hubs . for Chinese society . To underscore this 10. People’s Republic of This said, it is important to note that Chi- point, Zhao asks a simple rhetorical ques- China: 518 (Four Regions) nese education stands accused of being tion: If the Chinese education system is so (No. 6 in math, No. 27 in reading) manipulative and harmful . superior, why do so many of the country’s Some methodological clarity first: Not all Yong Zhao, a professor in the depart- elite send their children to college abroad? of China participated in PISA . In fact, up ment of educational methodology, policy until 2015, all Chinese students who took and leadership at the University of Ore- Wolfgang Depner has taught political the PISA exam had come from one area: gon’s College of Education, has presented theory and international politics at the Shanghai . evidence that the Chinese government University of British Columbia, Okana-

diplomat and international canada 61 Di spatches|Country rankings in EDUCATION

2015 BY COUNTRY: Student scores for science, reading and math

Science Reading Mathematics Croatia 475 487 464

Mean score in PISA 2015 CABA (Argentina) 475 475 456

OECD average 493 493 490 Iceland 473 482 488

Singapore 556 535 564 Israel 467 479 470

Japan 538 516 532 Malta 465 447 479

Estonia 534 519 520 Slovak Republic 461 453 475

Chinese Taipei 532 497 542 Greece 455 467 454

Finland 531 526 511 Chile 447 459 423

Macau (China) 529 509 544 Bulgaria 446 432 441

Canada 528 527 516 United Arab Emirates 437 434 427

Vietnam 525 487 495 Uruguay 435 437 418

Hong Kong (China) 523 527 548 Romania 435 434 444

B-S-J-G (China) 518 494 531 Cyprus1 433 443 437

Korea 516 517 524 Moldova 428 416 420

New Zealand 513 509 495 Albania 427 405 413

Slovenia 513 505 510 Turkey 425 428 420

Australia 510 503 494 Trinidad and Tobago 425 427 417

United Kingdom 509 498 492 Thailand 421 409 415

Germany 509 509 506 Costa Rica 420 427 400

Netherlands 509 503 512 Qatar 418 402 402

Switzerland 506 492 521 Colombia 416 425 390

Ireland 503 521 504 Mexico 416 423 408

Belgium 502 499 507 Montenegro 411 427 418

Denmark 502 500 511 Georgia 411 401 404

Poland 501 506 504 Jordan 409 408 380

Portugal 501 498 492 Indonesia 403 397 386

Norway 498 513 502 Brazil 401 407 377

United States 496 497 470 Peru 397 398 387

Austria 495 485 497 Lebanon 386 347 396

France 495 499 493 Tunisia 386 361 367

Sweden 493 500 494 FYROM (Macedonia) 384 352 371

Czech Republic 493 487 492 Kosovo 378 347 362

Spain 493 496 486 Algeria 376 350 360

Latvia 490 488 482 Dominican Republic 332 358 328

Russia 487 495 494

Luxembourg 483 481 486 The Republic of Cyprus is recognized by all members of the United Nations, with the exception of Turkey. The information in this document relates to Italy 481 485 490 the area under the effective control of the government of the Republic of Hungary 477 470 477 Cyprus. Lithuania 475 472 478 Source: OECD, PISA, 2015 Database

62 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Country rankings in EDUCATION|Di spatches

CANADA’S 40 YEARS OF JOB-TARGETED EDUCATION: 800 programs, 100-plus countries By Denise Amyot

here has been much talk about way to implement real change and gener- closing borders and the uncertain ate rapid progress . By adopting a truly Tfuture of our unquestionably glo- bilateral approach, Canadian colleges balized world; however, Colleges and and institutes also ensure that whatever Institutes Canada (CICan) has been busy expertise is transferred, the new curricu- working across borders with Kenya’s min- lums will be adapted to the reality on the istry of education to get our latest interna- ground and the needs of institutional part- tional program off the ground . ners, students and local employers . The Kenya Education for Employment Canadian colleges and institutes also Program (KEFEP) will help national post- provides support to a variety of interna- secondary institutions across the East tional projects, including pre-arrival ser- African nation develop new or enhanced vices for immigrants to Canada through competency-based programs in the ag- Planning for Canada, an initiative deliv- riculture and energy sectors in order to ered by the Canadian Immigrant Inte- increase employment and economic devel- gration Program and the Organization opment opportunities for local youth . In for Migration’s Canadian Orientation total, 1,200 Kenyan students are expected Abroad program . The initiative provides to graduate from KEFEP-supported pro- in-person and online orientation services grams over the next five years . They will to economic immigrants prior to their ar- be equipped with the skills they need, Students at the Northern Alberta Institute of rival in Canada . It also helps in accessing not only to build a meaningful life for Technology celebrate diversity. language classes and other training and themselves and their families, but also to education programs, credential recogni- support economic growth in their com- tion, as well as job market information in munities . Several high-profile institutions have their respective fields . This is just one of many ongoing in- taken notice, including the Asian Devel- Our members also contribute to greater ternational projects involving Canadian opment Bank, which recently concluded exchanges between countries by host- colleges and institutes, whose expertise is that Canada’s system was one of the two ing more than 50,000 international stu- in increasing demand around the world . most relevant Professional and Technical dents every year on campuses across the They are also active in the Caribbean, Education and Training systems (some- country . Since they offer a huge range of South America, Asia and in several other times known as TVET) for emerging specialized credentials, including degrees African nations, where their successful ap- Asian countries . As a result, CICan was and postgraduate certificates, they attract proach to technical education and training selected to implement activities needed many international students with a prior is seen as a strong model for success . In to strengthen the Indonesian network of degree looking for a more hands-on learn- total, our association has been involved post-secondary schools . ing experience or to perfect their profes- in more than 800 such programs in more The success of Canadian colleges and sional skills . In fact, more than 20 per cent than 100 countries over the past 40 years, institutes can be attributed in large part of students at colleges and institutes have and that doesn’t include the countless to a hands-on and collaborative approach attended university . other projects initiated by our members on to teaching, which seeks input from em- The increasing popularity of Canada's an individual basis . ployers and key partners within their own colleges and institutes with international This includes partnerships with an in- communities . Thanks to advisory commit- students, as well as their ongoing col- creasing number of developed countries, tees, comprised of local employers who laboration with institutions around the which are turning to Canada as they seek align program requirements to their em- world, places them in an enviable position to enhance their professional and technical ployment opportunities, colleges operate as true global leaders in post-secondary education and training . Our approach to on the leading edge of skills identification, education . As Canada continues to work applied research is also of particular inter- economic trends and market shifts . hand in hand with international partners est, as is the diverse Canadian offering of This approach is appealing to educators in a tumultuous global climate, the success degrees and postgraduate certificates . in many countries where emerging mar- of these collaborations is one of our best The Canadian college and institute system kets or industries are generating demand arguments for greater global engagement has earned a growing international reputation for an increasingly qualified workforce and dialogue . as one of the most relevant and high-quality with sector-specific skills and expertise . professional and technical education systems In that context, exploring post-secondary Denise Amyot is president and CEO of in the world — a fact that is better known in- education and training models with a Colleges and Institutes Canada . Reach

berta I nstit u te o f T e c hno l og y N orthern Al berta ternationally than at home . proven track record is often the quickest her at damyot@collegeinstitutes .ca .

diplomat and international canada 63 Di spatches|Taiwan-China Taiwan’s search for global space By Dr. Robert D’A. Henderson

When U.S. President Donald Trump accepted a call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, it was seen as one of the highest-profile examples of Taiwan's ongoing search for international recognition.

n early December 2016, U .S . president- papers, including the China Daily and the Tsai met with two senior Republican poli- elect Donald J . Trump accepted a Global Times, have run fierce denounce- ticians, U .S . Senator Ted Cruz and Texas Icongratulatory telephone call from ments warning of serious consequences if Gov . Greg Abbott . Cruz subsequently President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic Trump does not follow the “One China” stated that he and Tsai had discussed arms of China (ROC)-Taiwan . In addition to principle . This view is that there is only sales, diplomat exchanges and economic breaking with decades of U S. -China. “One China” and the governments on relations and that he hoped to increase diplomatic protocol, this telephone con- either side of the Taiwan Straits can define trade between Texas and Taiwan . These versation has been seen as one of the it as they choose — and that the Beijing stopover discussions sparked renewed highest-profile examples of Taiwan’s government has declared the principle opposition from the Beijing government, ongoing search for international space to be the non-negotiable basis of China- which continues to call upon Trump to in its global relations . And it is the type United States relations . Trump has pub- abide by the “One China” policy . of interaction that has been constantly licly stated that the “One China” principle an opposed regionally and globally by the may be negotiable — making China-U .S . Taiwan’s global role ai w Chinese Communist government in Bei- and Taiwan-U .S . relations, following his Since Taiwan lost its United Nations seat jing (People’s Republic of China – PRC), Jan . 20 presidential inauguration, very in 1971 to Mainland China, it has been which sees Taiwan as a “breakaway unpredictable . attempting to retain diplomatic relations province .” During her January transit stop in with other countries — as well as main- While the Beijing government has kept Houston (Texas) en route for her state tour taining membership or observer participa- its unhappiness with the telephone call of Central America — visiting Honduras, tion status in the international regulatory

relatively restrained, state-owned news- Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua — regimes that basically run day-to-day T Off i c e o f the president,

64 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Taiwan-China|Di spatches activities around the globe . Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu say there has been a lack of administra- Taiwan has a system of democratic gov- Kang, Taiwan was an “inseparable part of tive personnel exchanges between the two ernance with national executive, legisla- China” and had no right to participate in sides since May 20, when Tsai took office . tive parliament and municipal and county the 39th ICAO assembly in 2016 . He went Also in November, Taiwan campaigned councils that are freely elected every four on to state that “Taipei’s attendance in the to attend the UN Framework Conven- years . Political parties are permitted under past was based on temporary arrange- tion on Climate Change-COP22 in Mar- its national constitution, most recently ments,” namely then-Taiwanese president rakesh, Morocco . Even though it is not amended in 2005, and can put forward Ma Ying-jeou’s Nationalist Party (KMT) a UN member, it was able to attend as a candidates for elected office alongside in- government had accepted the “1992 Con- non-governmental observer through a dependent candidates . As an industrially sensus” that there was only one China . “technical approach” — with little inter- advanced society and a major contributor Since her successful election in 2016, ference from China . Its Environmental to the global information and communica- Tsai has not acknowledged or accepted Protection Administration (EPA) mission tions technology (ICT) supply chains, Tai- the “1992 Consensus” or the “One China” was able to hold meaningful discussions wan was the 17th-largest exporting nation principle . Rather, her Democratic Progres- with more than 35 nations on a variety of and 18th-largest importer of merchandise sive Party (DPP) government has repeat- climate issues, including greenhouse gas in 2015, according to the World Trade Or- edly stated that it would abide by the reductions . And the EPA team pointed out ganization . ROC-Taiwan Constitution and the “will that the work to fight climate change con- In addition to bolstering its state-to- of the Taiwanese people .” As a result, cerned the “survival of the entire human state diplomatic relations with 20 other China pressured the ICAO not to issue an population .” countries, Taiwan maintains strong eco- observer invitation to Taiwan — despite Chinese opposition to Taiwan’s search nomic and cultural relations with all of its continuing role in ensuring “a seamless for international space is a constant hin- the major industrialized countries and sky” worldwide . drance . In a recent individual example, regularly campaigns for observer status in Foreign ministry spokesman Lu went former Taiwan president Ma was invited international regulatory regimes . Taiwan on to state that the position of the State to give an address to the 8th World Chi- has full membership in 37 intergovern- Council of the Chinese government was nese Economic Summit in Melaka, Malay- mental regulatory organizations and their that “the prerequisite for Taiwan to par- sia, last November . He sought to urge the subsidiaries, including the World Trade ticipate in any international activity is for summit participants to support Taiwan’s Organization (WTO), Asia-Pacific Eco- it to agree to the one-China policy and for effort to enhance its ties with ASEAN nomic Cooperation (APEC) and the Asian this to be resolved through consultation .” countries in trade, education and culture Development Bank (ADB) — as well as — and to work toward Taiwan applying observer status in 22 other regulatory In search of observer status for ASEAN membership . But, at Beijing’s bodies . Taiwan also campaigned to participate reported urging, the summit booklet omit- in the 85th General Assembly of the In- ted his formal official title and replaced ICAO's 39th assembly in Montreal ternational Criminal Police Organization it with only his name — thus denying Last September, the International Civil (Interpol) held in Bali, Indonesia, last No- him his rightful and respectful title . In re- Aviation Organization (ICAO) held its vember . It had been an Interpol member sponse, Ma wore a self-prepared nametag 39th assembly in Montreal . As an increas- until 1984 when it was forced to withdraw that identified himself as “Former Presi- ingly important international regulatory as China joined the organization . Basically, dent of the Republic of China (Taiwan) ”. regime — and one of the family of United Interpol facilitates international co-opera- In a subsequent press conference, he Nations’ specialized agencies — the ICAO tion between the police forces of countries declared that China had been behind the holds triennial meetings to deliberate on worldwide and assists those countries move and that the summit organizers had international issues affecting global civil to combat organized crime, cybercrime, apologized to him afterwards . aviation operations, with the continuing trans-border crime and terrorism . As a goal of maintaining “a seamless sky” for non-member, Taiwan is denied access to WHO and SARS 2003 in Taiwan international air travel . Interpol's global police communications For an earlier example from 2003, Taiwan Even though it is an integral part of the system, and even to its stolen and lost was blocked from international co- global aviation network — particularly travel documents database . operation involving the World Health in East Asia — Taiwan was unsuccessful In March 2016, the U .S . government, Organization (WHO) and the SARS global in being granted observer status at the under president Barack Obama, signed health threat . At the time, I was attending ICAO assembly . Within the global aviation into law legislation calling for support for an international Asia-Pacific Co-operative network, the Taipei Flight Information Taiwan’s efforts to gain observer status Security conference, being held in Taipei . Region (FIR) covers 180,000 square nauti- in Interpol — a position that other major In the months prior, the Severe Acute cal miles of air flight area between Japan’s foreign powers supported . Nevertheless, Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus epi- Fukuoka FIR to the north, the Philippines’ Taiwan was denied an observer invitation demic broke out in Guangdong province Manila FIR to the south, and China’s to the Interpol meeting in Bali . in southern China . Hong Kong FIR and Shanghai FIR to the This was despite the cross-strait agree- By mid-March, the WHO had an- west . And, in 2015, more than 1 .5 mil- ment on joint crime-fighting between nounced that SARS was a “worldwide lion flights carrying 58 million travellers China and Taiwan — signed in March health threat .” But, due to China’s oppo- passed through the Taipei FIR . 2009 — for joint investigations, infor- sition to Taiwan having membership in Taiwan had been invited to the 2013 mation-sharing and documentation ex- international governmental organizations ICAO assembly as a guest by the ICAO changes . While low-level exchanges of or even observer status, Taiwan could not president — with the acquiescence of the crime-fighting information continue receive WHO health threat alerts . As a Chinese government . Yet, according to across the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan officials result, it had to rely on foreign allies and

diplomat and international canada 65 Di spatches| Taiwan-China friends for health updates — because the the East Asian region and globally . free-trade agreements and bilateral invest- Chinese health ministry on the mainland Since the Trump-Tsai telephone chat ment agreements with other governments . would only pass delayed information in December, the mainland has called for These agreements can be with its allied through semi-official cross-strait associa- stronger — though not military — direct countries and regionally through its new tion links . measures against the island . In 2005, the Southbound Policy approach to Southeast With Taipei being a major international Chinese government passed an Anti- Asia, particularly the 10-nation ASEAN air travel hub — and with air travel be- Secession Law that claimed authorization organization — the nations of South Asia, ing a primary conductor of the disease to use force against Taiwan if the CCP and Australia and New Zealand . Taiwan — Taiwan was reliant on timely medical leadership determined the island had has already reached economic agreements updates from its allied countries, espe- declared independence or that there was with Singapore and New Zealand . cially the United States . In Taipei, we civil disorder there . Recent media report- The second way is a partnership received daily medical briefings on the ing suggests that senior People’s Libera- method in which Taiwan seeks joint ap- global SARS situation from two Taiwan tion Army (PLA) officers have called for proaches with an allied government to National University medical professors greater direct pressure on Taiwan by participate in wider activities of inter- who had received WHO alerts overnight implementing measures such as further national governmental organizations from their colleagues in the United States . reduction in cross-strait trade and tourist — in effect, to seek intergovernmental These morning briefings on the state of organization membership (IGO) solutions . affairs were very welcomed by all the At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation international participants . As well, the (APEC) summit — to which ROC-Taiwan updated medical information was being has membership — in Lima, Peru, in distributed island-wide for all residents’ November 2016, the United States and welfare . The SARS epidemic would go on Taiwan jointly announced their intention to infect 8,098 people — with 774 deaths to support the establishment of a sub- worldwide including 44 in Canada, ac- fund on women and the economy under cording to the WHO . APEC’s auspices . Such a model of joint participation in Beijing’s continuing institutional opposition IGO developmental projects with foreign The Beijing government will likely con- countries could gain Taiwan greater inter- tinue to pressure international organiza- national space . And such joint partnership tions to deny Taiwan participation or approaches could be pursued while at the observer status in any regulatory regimes same time permitting face-saving cover — despite the goal of global well-being for for China . But the Chinese Communist all the world’s citizens that their interna- Party government in Beijing is expected tional activities are meant to achieve . For to oppose Taiwan’s search for greater more on this, see the sidebar on page 67 . international space — whether wider dip- Two events in 2017 will cast a spotlight lomatic relations or observer status — in on the tense situation across the Taiwan all cases regardless of the Taiwan govern- Straits . First, the ninth annual BRICS When former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou ment’s international and bilateral efforts . Leaders Summit will be held in Xiamen was invited to address an international audience in In sum, the Beijing government fears City on the southeast China coastline Malaysia, Chinese officials meddled with his titles. that the Trump White House will use in September . With leaders from Brazil, the “Taiwan issue” as a pressure point in Russia, India, South Africa and host na- bargaining against Mainland China . At tion China meeting at this location across groups, no longer permitting direct flights, the same time, Taiwan sees itself being the straits from Taiwan, it will very likely and even enacting an economic blockade . used as a bargaining chip in U .S .-China focus BRICS, Asian and international at- These actions would be in addition to cur- dealings . What Trump will actually do is tention on the need for peaceful political rent PLA air force flights around the island unpredictable for the parties on either side and economic relations in the East Asian and PLA navy exercises just outside the of the Taiwan Strait . region . island’s maritime boundaries Ultimately, it’s difficult to predict how And second, the Chinese Communist Washington’s policy towards Taiwan Party (CPP) will hold its 19th Party Con- Ways to break the impasse might change under Trump . gress in Beijing in November . These five- There are two ways Taiwan can par- year congresses set the national plans and ticipate or have observer status in inter- Dr . Robert D’A . Henderson is a retired policies for China for the next five years national regulatory bodies . First, it can professor of international relations who as well as approving the membership of keeping talking and negotiating with currently does international assessments the country’s highest political bodies — other governments for bilateral agree- and international elections monitoring . the standing committee of the politburo ments on common regulatory issues and Among his recent writings is “China – and the party politburo . While the CCP other bilateral issues, such as trade and Great Power Rising,” in the Routledge Congress is likely to only restate the of- investment regulations . Handbook of Diplomacy and Statecraft ficial CCP perspective that Taiwan is a In recent discussions in Taipei, minister (London and New York) . At the time of “renegade province of China,” it seems without portfolio Bill K .M . Chen, who the Trump-Tsai telephone chat last De- certain that there will continue to be a heads Taiwan’s Office of Trade Nego- cember, Dr . Henderson was able to hold strong effort to restrict or hinder Taiwan’s tiations, pointed out that the Taiwanese wide-ranging research discussions in

campaign for wider international space in government was continuously discussing Taipei, Taiwan . Jimm y Yao

66 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Taiwan-China|Di spatches

Taiwan seeks May 2016 A Taiwan representative was international permitted to attend the UN World Health Organization’s status 69th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on May The Chinese Communist 25. That invitation was given Party government in Beijing only because the assembly’s sees Taiwan as a “breakaway invitation had already been province” of Mainland China. given to former Taiwan presi- It has therefore continu- dent Ma Ying-jeou’s KMT gov- ously sought to block Taiwan’s ernment as “Chinese Taipei.” participation as a national As a result, Taiwanese government in international Health Minister Lin Tzou-yien governmental organizations. addressed the assembly, Under its “One China” policy, calling for the World Health China only agrees to Taiwan’s Organization and its member participation in international states to support Taiwan in its governmental organizations efforts to participate robustly Taiwan had some success at the International Civil Aviation (IGOs) as either “Chinese in WHO meetings and activities. Organization under president Ma Ying-jeou, but has received Taipei,” as in the Olympic pushback from China since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen. Games, or it agrees to its status June 2016 as an economic entity — not A group of Taiwanese univer- as the democratic government sity student participants sought Report 2016-2017 from November 2016 that it is — as in Asia-Pacific to observe an International “Chinese Taipei” to “Taiwan, Taiwan helped co-found Economic Cooperation (APEC). Labour Organization China” with Mainland China’s the UN Non-Governmental Alternatively, it agrees to see (ILO) meeting in Geneva, acceptance. Even so, Taiwan Organization Committee for it as a “guest” observer at the Switzerland. But, when they had moved up one notch Rare Diseases. Nevertheless, invitation of an IGO president. presented their ROC-Taiwan to No. 14 in the WEF global it was barred from attending Below is a list of recent IGO passports and university ID competitiveness rankings while its first meeting in New York meetings or annual reports cards to obtain an ILO pass, retaining its No. 4 standing due to pressure from the from which ROC-Taiwan they were rejected out of hand. among Asian nations. Chinese government — despite was either excluded or Taiwan’s contribution to rare only allowed to attend in a July 2016 November 2016 diseases research. reduced or non-voting capac- Taiwanese government Taiwan campaigned to par- ity. According to the foreign officials from its Council ticipate in the 85th General November 2016 ministry in Taipei, there are of Agriculture were forced Assembly of the International Former Taiwan President Ma plans to have a hotlink to an to leave the UN Food and Criminal Police Organization Ying-jeou was invited to deliv- English-language list on its Agricultural Organization’s (Interpol) held in Bali, er a speech at the 8th World website later this year. See 32nd Session of its committee Indonesia, but was refused Chinese Economic Summit in http://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/ on fisheries because they held attendance and observer Malaysia, but due to Chinese default.html. ROC-Taiwan passports. status. It had been an Interpol government interference, his member until 1984, when it title was downgraded in the April 2016 September 2016 was forced to withdraw after summit’s directory and confer- The Organisation for Despite efforts by Taiwan’s China joined the organization. ence handbook. In a follow-up Economic Co-operation and diplomatic allies and friendly press conference, Ma declared Development (OECD) asked countries, the International November 2016 that China’s suppression of Taiwan’s delegation to leave Civil Aviation Organization Taiwan was forced to send a Taiwan at the event was a senior officials’ symposium (ICAO) council president lower-level official from its unnecessary. in Belgium due to pressure chose not to follow the 2013 Environmental Protection from China. Though Taiwan precedent of inviting Taiwan Administration to lead a non- The Chinese government is not a member of the OECD, to attend as an observer at governmental technical del- continues to use this practice. it was invited as a dialogue the 39th ICAO Assembly in egation to the UN Framework It cites President Tsai Ing-wen, partner to attend a high-level Montreal, Qué. Convention on Climate Change Taiwan’s current president, as symposium on excess capacity (UNFCCC) COP22 conference only “Taiwanese leader Tsai” and structural adjustment in September 2016 in Marrakesh, Morocco, due in its official statements and the steel sector co-sponsored The World Economic Forum to China’s pressure because media reporting. by Belgium and the OECD. changed Taiwan’s listing in its Taiwan was not a member of annual Global Competitiveness the United Nations. H enri c kson

diplomat and international canada 67 Di spatches|genocide in aFRICA The killing fields of Africa

The killing sprees in South Sudan right now amount to ethnic cleansing, writes Robert Rotberg.

tral African Republic, the Democratic ceived as attempts to cleanse a country or Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, a region of an ethnic group . Ethnic cleans- South Sudan or Zimbabwe . Even South ing has no accepted legal definition, but it Africans, in fits of xenophobia, attack is widely regarded as a war crime that can outsiders . be prosecuted by the International Crimi- Some of these episodes of murderous nal Court (ICC) and as a crime against hu- mayhem rise to the scale of genocide, as manity . Large-scale massacres of a group Robert I. defined and prohibited by the UN Con- or a classification of individuals constitute Rotberg vention on the Prevention and Punish- ethnic cleansing, and many of the civil ment of Genocide of 1948 . Genocide is the wars in Africa have taken on the colour of “intent to destroy, in whole or part, a na- that definition, with the ICC prosecuting hy do Africans kill each other tional, ethnical, racial or religious group, some of the perpetrators and indicting so easily? Atrocities abound, as such .” others alleged to be responsible . In the

Wwhether in Burundi, the Cen- But many more such episodes are per- aftermath of Kenya’s bitter 2007 election, S teve evans 68 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN genocide in aFRICA|Di spatches

for example, the Kikuyu people killed the Africa is different . There, much of breakup of Yugoslavia or Myanmar today) Kalenjin and Luo and Kalenjin killed Ki- the seemingly endemic mayhem in sev- can too readily claim that the other group kuyu in the Rift Valley . The ICC attempted eral countries stems less from gang-like is after “our” land, or “our” opportunities, unsuccessfully to try Kenyan President competition and more from power and or “our” chance to amass wealth from Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice-President Wil- resource conflicts between ethnicities newly discovered petroleum or iron ore liam Ruto for their alleged fomenting of competing for whatever kinds of wealth- deposits . “They,” the cry comes, are after “our” diamonds, “our” land, or “our” rights to live in a particular area or region . The result of this artificially induced anxiety and antagonism is often massive assaults against out-groups by in-groups, and retaliation . Tit-for-tat killings lead to escalated bouts of violence . Sometimes, as in South Sudan now and the Central African Republic last year and before, the killing sprees amount to ethnic cleansing . Between 2003 and 2006, the Sudan clearly engaged in the targeting and extermina- tion of non-Arab peoples in the western Sudanese province of Darfur, subcontract- ing their killing to Arabic-speaking bands from the northern part of the province . More recently, the Sudanese government has strafed and bombed non-Arabs in the southern provinces of Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains . Ethnic cleansing episodes occasionally become so intense and horrific that they constitute genocide . That is what happened within a few months in 1994 in Rwanda, when the more numerous Hutu (the locally dominant ethnic group) systematically massacred 800,000 Tutsi, Rwanda’s other, and rival, ethnic people . That genocide was organized and directed by Hutu leaders who were attempting once and for all to eliminate Tutsi preten- The International Criminal Court attempted unsuccessfully to try Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, sions to national power, and therefore to shown here in Nairobi, for his alleged fomenting of fatal violence. The indictments were suspended end ethnic contests for the spoils of gov- after witnesses were induced to commit perjury. erning . In neighbouring Burundi, Hutu-inspired attacks on Tutsi have sometimes that fatal violence; both indictments had grabbing opportunities are capable of be- verged on episodes of ethnic cleansing, to be suspended when witnesses were ing corralled within national borders . That but all-out genocidal warfare would now induced to commit perjury by Kenyan is why the discovery of oil, gas or mineral be curtailed by African Union sanctions authorities . deposits often stimulates outbreaks of con- and military action and by forceful in- Americans also kill, especially in big tention that turn into outright civil war . tervention by nearby Rwanda . President cities such as Chicago and New Orleans, Paul Kagame, leader of the Tutsi and usually as a result of rivalry between Identity rivalries the liberator of post-genocidal Rwanda, criminalized drug-trafficking gangs . The resultant conflicts, frequently bitter would not permit another massacre of his Warfare among gangs also drives much and ferocious, turn Africans of one iden- kin, even across a sovereign border . of the murderous violence in the key kill- tity against Africans of another identity . Instead, a civil conflict in Burundi that ing capitals of the world — El Salvador, There is safety and trust in joining one’s began when President Pierre Nkurun- Guatemala and Honduras . In Brazil, too, own people when another “people” is ziza, a Hutu, declared himself elected to a competition over control of cocaine distri- threatening or attacking . That is natural . constitutionally illegal third term in 2015, bution has led to brutal assassinations and But conflict between ethnic groups is not continues . But Nkurunziza’s opponents dismemberment of rival gangs, especially an inevitable recrudescence of some an- are not exclusively Tutsi . In several groups within prisons . Almost everywhere one cient and immutable antagonism between of Hutu and Tutsi opponents, they simply turns across the globe, people are murder- tribes (as so many outsiders assert) . seek to end Nkurunziza’s usurpation of ing fellow countrymen . But little of the Rather it is easy for irresponsible, power, and to return to democracy . gang-perpetrated violence, or the urban power-hungry leaders to mobilize an In the Central African Republic, one deaths, can even remotely be considered ethnic group or a sub-clan against an of Africa’s most fractured and poor na-

Un photo ethnic cleansing . out-group . Leaders (as in Serbia after the tions, the struggle in 2013-2016 to control

diplomat and international canada 69 Di spatches|genocide in aFRICA

tion Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and the regular national army in the eastern districts of the Democratic Republic of Congo . There, especially in the provinces of North and South Kivu, near Rwanda and Uganda, non-state actors run local militias targeting civilians who are sometimes just “in the way,” or who sometimes belong to or support other local warlords . The drive in this region is to gain or keep control over natural resources, especially coltan, a combination of rare metals (columbite and tantalite) used in cellphones and high- performance aircraft . So far, since about 1988, more than 5 .5 million people have been extirpated in this region .

Kleptocratically-driven corruption All of these ethnic cleansing zones of contention simmer in 2017 . But the major cause of concern, and of potential genocide, is in South Sudan, a nation carved out of the southern reaches of the Sudan in 2011 . After 30 years of war between the Arab-speaking army of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) of South Sudan, peace was brokered by the United States and Norway, and The Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre provides grim reminders of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. — with much fanfare and great hope — South Sudan was admitted into the United whatever could be extracted from the power, and by the UN . And the man that Nations . country — mostly diamonds, some gold Mugabe put in charge of the all-out ethnic But just as the discovery of oil inside and uranium, and access to remittances cleansing was Emerson Mnangagwa, now the Sudan (and what subsequently be- — seemed to revolve around religious dif- poised to become Mugabe’s successor . came South Sudan) in the 1970s stimu- ferences . The Séléka, a Muslim group from Ethnic cleansing continues today, de- lated a civil war between Sudan and what the north, took national power away from spite ineffective efforts to hinder it by the is now South Sudan, so the possibility of a largely Christian group of southerners . United Nations Organization Stabiliza- untold riches from oil (largely exported Then the Christians fought back and re- to China and Malaysia) turned the infant gained national sovereignty . South Sudan into a cauldron of enmity . Along the way, thousands (precise President Salva Kiir, a Dinka and one of numbers are debated) were killed in all- the leaders of the SPLA, became the coun- out campaigns that amounted to ethnic try’s first and only president . Riek Machar, cleansing . Yet, though this conflict was a Nuer, and a sometime fighter in the ostensibly religious, it was also ethnic . SPLA and a sometime collaborator with The Muslims, supported by neighbouring Sudan, became vice-president . The Dinka Chad, were linguistically and ethnically are South Sudan’s largest ethnic group (36 distinct from the Bantu-speaking south- per cent of the total population) and the erners (who happened to be Christians) Nuer the next largest (16 per cent) . who had always run the Republic under Before long, a major falling out between the French and after independence in Kiir and Machar over “rents” — over the 1960 . distribution of largesse from oil exports and other revenues — led to an open civil Ethnic cleansing ignored war in 2013 between their supporters . Ki- In the 1980s, President Robert Mugabe’s ir’s Dinka-led South Sudanese army and then newly independent, Shona-domi- the Nuer components of the same army nated government of Zimbabwe slaugh- battled each other . Despite partial cease- tered 20,000 to 30,000 Ndebele from the fires in 2016, the war continues . Machar southwestern corner of the country be- has directed his side of the war from the cause they were supposedly a threat to the neighbouring Congo and sometimes from Shona — traditional rivals of the Ndebele . Sudan . Kiir and his military commanders This bout of ethnic cleansing was largely Photographs of genocide survivors hang in the target anyone who is Nuer and therefore

ignored by Britain, the departed colonial Rwandan memorial centre. anyone who is a possible or a real sup- | D reamstime. c om / A dam Jones © Al extara

70 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN genocide in aFRICA|Di spatches

porter of Machar . The other side does the cally, when they are driven to kill by false same to Dinka . From 2013 through 2016, witness or because of fears aroused by at least 60,000 Sudanese, mostly civilians, self-aggrandizing leaders . Until there is lost their lives either in combat or, more better leadership, leading to better gover- likely, as “collateral’ damage . Disease and nance, strengthened rules of law, reduced malnutrition have also taken their tolls . corruption and collegial comity and con- With all the fighting and the ineffectual sensus-building — as mostly in today’s nature of the UN Mission in the Republic Benin, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, of South Sudan (UNMISS) that has at- Mauritius, Namibia, Ghana, Liberia and tempted to stand between the warring Senegal — other Africans will continue to parties, starvation has also contributed to kill their neighbours out of fear and greed . ethnic cleansing . Women and children suffer most of all Africa is hardly at peace . So long as from starvation, avoidable diseases and greed, kleptocratically-driven corruption massive, sometimes intentional, attacks on and disdain by leaders of any peoples civilians of the “wrong” ethnicity, who stand in their way fuels war, some Ethnic cleansing opportunities are Africans will be driven to kill other Afri- always around the next corner unless the cans whom they have been led to believe forces of order in the African Union, the are “out to get” them . Tribalism and ethnic United Nations and former colonial pow- cleansing thus become constructed, that is, ers, such as France, intervene, occasion- created externally, always by leaders who ally with effect, as in the Central African whip up hatreds to mobilize followers . Republic and Mali, but sometimes weakly This hate cannot be considered primor- Genocide victims' skulls at the Nyamata and tragically, as in the eastern Congo and dial . Memorial Site in Rwanda. Somalia, and sometimes simply too late . Africans in the Democratic Republic of Congo, say, kill people who are different Sudan, or in Botswana versus Zimbabwe Robert I . Rotberg is a fellow at the Wood- from them . But just across the border in there is peace and intermarriage while the row Wilson International Center, senior Zambia, the same people, speaking the same peoples just across borders battle fellow at the Centre for International same disparate languages, go about their and kill . Governance Innovation and founding business peacefully, and even intermarry . Africans therefore assault fellow Afri- director of Harvard's Kennedy School Likewise, in Uganda, as opposed to South cans, and even try to cleanse them ethni- program on intrastate development .

Look Who’s Watching Surveillance, Treachery and Trust Online

Fen Osler Hampson and Eric Jardine Edward Snowden’s revelations that the US National Security Agency and other government agencies are spying on Internet users and on other governments confirmed that the Internet is increasingly being used to gather intelligence and personal information. The proliferation of cybercrime, the sale of users’ data without their knowledge and the surveillance of citizens through connected devices are all rapidly eroding the confidence users have in the Internet. To meet the Internet’s full potential, its users need to trust that the Internet works reliably while also being secure, private and safe. When trust in the Internet wanes, users begin to alter their online behaviour. A combination of illustrative anecdotal evidence and analysis of new survey data, Look Who’s Watching clearly demonstrates why trust matters, how it is being eroded and how, with care and deliberate policy action, the essential glue of the Internet — trust — can be restored.

October 2016 978-1-928096-19-1 | hardcover 978-1-928096-20-7 | ebook

The authors have produced a clear, timely and essential book about the importance of trust as an engine for the Internet. We must foster that trust if the global Internet is to continue to flourish. — Michael Chertoff, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder, Chertoff Group, and former secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security CIGI PRESS Advancing Policy Ideas and Debate CIGI Press books are distributed by McGill-Queen’s University Press (mqup.ca) and can be found in better bookstores and through online book retailers. y Sc hertzer Fann

diplomat and international canada 71 DELIGHTS|books Shanghai nights and days

George Fetherling

hen the yoga instructor says “Go to your happy place,” I go Wto Shanghai in the 1930s . I’m not being facetious . In the years between the two world wars, Shanghai had an abundance of a priceless commodity that the world finds in such short supply today: freedom . I’ve spent much of my life looking for a city where outsiders can pursue personal liberty without undue interference . Berlin during the Weimar Republic was at least two full generations before my time . I even missed, though only by a few years, the foreigners’ paradise that Tangier used to be . But Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s — that would have been the best time and place for westerners (if unfortunately often quite horrible for so many of its Chinese) . The most important lines in Taras Grescoe’s invigorating new book Shanghai Grand (HarperCollins Canada, $32 99). are the ones reminding us that “Shanghai was unique among the world’s great cities in that it required no passports, visas, financial guarantees or certificates of character from new arrivals… .” No strangling bureaucracy . To set- Shanghai in the 1920s and 1930s was "unique among the world's great cities in that it required tle permanently in the Paris of the Orient, no passports, visas, financial guarantees or certificates of character for new arrivals," writes Taras with its “afternoons at the races, evenings Grescoe in Shanghai Grand. on the river and nightlife that continued well into the next morning,” one had only to show up . not be prosecuted by the Chinese authori- city (it now has 24 .5 million and is ranked The cosmopolitan and multicultural ties . Rather, they would be dealt with in 18th in size) . city that Shanghai became was the result separate European and American courts Grescoe is a Montreal author, the scion of Britain’s victory in the Opium Wars of established in the two enclaves known of a notable Canadian journalistic fam- the mid-19th Century . Cities up and down as the International Settlement and the ily . He began writing travel narratives the China coast and on the major rivers French Concession, which also had their before branching out into a wide range were declared treaty ports . That meant, own separate police forces and the like . of other nonfiction genres . But Shanghai among other things, that the British and British, American and French citizens, Grand is more than that . It’s a beautifully Americans pocketed the customs and ex- along with exiled White Russians, were constructed work that is equal parts his- cise money and “could enjoy the benefits the most numerous non-Chinese residents, tory and romance . On the one hand, it’s a of colonial power without any of the costly though there were also Germans, Filipi- richly researched examination of the rise responsibilities of actually administering nos, Koreans, Italians, Germans, Dutch of the foreigners’ paradise and its destruc- a colony .” — and an estimated 38 other nationalities . tion in successive wars . On the other, it’s Under the doctrine called extraterrito- In 1935, Shanghai had a population of 3 .5 a vivid reconstruction of a famous love riality, foreigners living in Shanghai could million and was the world’s fifth-largest affair of the period .

72 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN BOOKS|DELIGHTS

The main character in the latter drama automobile with tommygunners standing is Emily Hahn (called Mickey), a highly on the running boards . A reference book of prolific and charmingly eccentric Ameri- Shanghai’s social elite characterized him can journalist and novelist, long associated as “one of the leading financiers, bankers with the New Yorker . She was an adventur- and industrial leaders of China .” That is to ous opium addict who favoured simians say, he ran the dope trade in the Interna- as friends (for instance, she travelled with tional Settlement (and coincidentally was a gibbon named Mr . Mills) . She arrived in also the head of the Opium Suppression China as “a recovering flapper” and was Bureau) . His contemporary in the French befriended by the richest man in Shanghai, Concession, “Pock-marked” Huang Jin- Sir Victor Sassoon, the suave real estate ty- rong, was leader of the justly feared Green coon who built the famous Cathay Hotel . Gang . He also ran the Sûreté’s detective Like Hahn, he was a cultural Jew, but not squad . Karl Marx famously wrote that a religious one . The history of his family’s “religion is the opium of the people .” But wealth extended back a thousand years to in Shanghai opium was a kind of religion . the Bhasid caliphate in medieval Baghdad . In the early 1930s, there were 20,000 His dress reminded people of the carica- beggars in the International Settlement . ture of the millionaire on Monopoly cards, From time to time, the police would round and he was the only Shanghailander (as up many of them and drive them through the foreigners called themselves) to em- the countryside, tossing out a few at each ploy a full-time social secretary . town or village they encountered . “Dis- Hahn became romantically involved ease and hunger often took care of the with the early modernist poet and pub- rest .” In 1935, the authorities had to deal lisher Zau Sinmay (now written Shao with 5,960 corpses in the streets and lanes Xunmei), “the Verlaine of China,” who lost of the International Settlement . One year, his family fortune, but tried to keep up ap- a city-wide census of unclaimed bodies pearances . As Grescoe writes: “In Republi- revealed 18,000 corpses . Shanghai was can-era Shanghai [1912–49], kidnappings the location of the world’s biggest prison, made being a flâneur risky, so he usually the Ward Road Gaol . The city also had its opted to be chauffeured in his brown Nash own leper colony, at least until the Second sedan .” Zau and Hahn had a not-quite- World War — when almost everything official marriage . Later, she wed Charles else changed as well . Boxer, the head of British intelligence in Japan invaded the northern reaches of wartime Hong Kong who is now better China and by January 1932 was in open, known as a famous historian of Dutch and large-scale warfare with Chiang Kai-shek’s Portuguese colonialism . Hahn noted that “Shanghailanders seemed to look upon the Chinese as quaint — or infuriating — servants, dwell- ers in picturesque villages, or, at best, descendants of the emperors of a once-great civilization .” The racism that the Chinese had to endure was unrestrained, but the poverty in which so many of them lived was a common source of pity . Typical was a Los Angeles Times reporter on the scene who commented that Shanghai had “more cabarets, country clubs, lavish liv- Shanghai's Nanking Road (1912-1945) ing and degrading misery than any port from Honolulu to Suez .” Aldous Huxley, one of the many literary figures driven to Republican forces . Shanghai was at vari- document the place, wrote of the crowded, ous times bombed and encroached on, but dirty, lively city that “inspires something it didn’t fall to the Japanese army until like terror .” 1937 . By then it had a large population of Jewish refugees from Europe who saw it The dark side of the city as “the port of last resort” after they had Viewed at street level, nine floors below been refused entry to numerous other the posh Tower Club in Sir Victor’s Cathay places . The Japanese, however, confined Hotel, life was brutal and often brief . A them to a new ghetto while leaving the Capone-like figure named “Big-Eared” foreign concessions more or less alone, at Du Yuesheng first became rich by smug- least for the time being . Asked about fears gling opium inside coffins . He could be of what the Japanese might do, Mickey

w iki seen racing through the streets in a flashy Hahn remarked, like a true Shanghai-

diplomat and international canada 73 DELIGHTS|BOOKS

lander, “I think the more scared you are, and Buffalo or of Batman’s Gotham City . the better it is to go out dancing .” As Gres- The last time I stayed at the Cathay, there coe observes dryly, “The anesthetic quali- were two large signs in the lobby, resting ties of opium almost certainly contributed on easels . One informed guests that the CELADON to her neverthelessness .” hotel is far-famed for its clean linen and salon & spa The above events were part of the Sec- attention to hygiene . The other read: “Due ond Sino-Japanese War, but by the very to necessary renovations, the jazz band, early 1940s they had become instead a which normally is to be found in our section of the Second World War’s East lobby, may now be heard on the eighth Asian theatre of operations as Hong floor temporarily . Our apologies for any Kong, Singapore and other places fell to inconvenience . You are thanked .” the Japanese, one after another . In 1943, a large percentage of Shanghailanders Reporters in prison — those who hadn’t left town when the Once upon a time, the popular image of going was still good — found themselves a foreign correspondent was of someone interned . The International Settlement who was, above all else, dashing . These was shut down, followed by the French days, the stereotype is becoming that of a Concession in 1946 . The final blow to the person who has been dashed: abused, shot CELADON wide-open days came in 1949, of course, at, imprisoned . In the past dozen or so salon & spa when Chiang and his nationalist govern- years, a significant number of books have ment fled Mao Zedong’s takeover and appeared about journalists who have run relocated themselves on Taiwan (then into serious trouble for doing their jobs . called Formosa) . It was a dark time for Two of the recent ones are by Vancouver Whether you have what the Chinese referred to as bad hats journalists with connections to the Univer- an hour or a day... (“spies, turncoats, and dope dealers”) . In sity of British Columbia . make health, beauty Grescoe’s phrase, “What the world gained Deborah Campbell is an independent in probity, it lost in romance .” reporter who has worked in eight or nine and rejuvenation Middle Eastern countries (and also in Rus- a priority! Permanent nostalgia sia and parts of Latin America) . She is flu- The scent of the old days still lingers in ent in a number of the relevant languages Our Services western nostrils after all these years . Grescoe is writing as a historian, a Hair Care - Waxing traveller and a chronicler, but also as a Tinting - Make-up strangely strong-minded sentimental- Eyelash Extensions ist . Sir Victor, Mickey Hahn and Zau Body Treatments Sinmay are wonderful characters to re- Manicures - Pedicures create . So are a number of the others in Therapeutic, Relaxation and Shanghai Grand, such as Morris Abraham Hot Stone Massages (Two-Gun) Cohen . He was, among other things, the bodyguard of Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary who overthrew the old Our Products Empire and became president of the new Republic . Cohen had once been a very OPI minor political figure in Edmonton . While Shellac in China, he acquired a shipment of Ross Footlogix rifles, the weapon given Canadian soldiers Kevin Murphy in the Great War that proved so dangerous Jane Iredale that it became a scandal that rattled Sir Esthederm de Paris Robert Borden’s government . Cohen had Deserving Thyme a nice sideline selling the damn things to Chinese warlords . “How did he get away Miscencil with a con like that?” I once asked someone with knowledge of the period . “Well,” The Perfect Gift for that Special Someone he answered, “Cohen did have a ground- and contributes to Foreign Policy, the Econ- ing in Alberta politics .” omist, the Guardian and other important A CELADON GIFT Yet, as the title of the book suggests periodicals . A decade after her student without being blunt about it, the Cathay days at Tel Aviv University, she returned CERTIFICATE Hotel is Grescoe’s most important char- to Israel . The end result was her first book, acter . Renamed the Peace Hotel by the This Heated Place, a controversial inquiry 373 St. Laurent Blvd 613-746-3500 communists, it still dominates the Shang- into the national psyche and the Israeli- www.celadonspa.ca hai Bund, that exquisite row of 1920s Palestinian strife . It was published in 2002 . skyscrapers that looks for all the world The following year saw the American- HAIR • SKIN • BODY • NAILS like the glory-days skylines of Cleveland led invasion of Iraq, one consequence of

74 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN BOOKS|DELIGHTS which was the flood of two million Iraqi Fahmy and the third man, an Egyptian, refugees who poured into Syria . In 2007, remained in Scorpion Prison, a particu- Ottawa Event Planning Campbell was in Damascus, undercover, larly horrific maximum security institu- writing about them and their rocky exis- tion specializing in political prisoners and 10 years’ experience – tence in a neighbourhood referred to as terrorists real and imagined . Under pres- more than 100 events Little Baghdad . She is the kind of journal- sure from Britain, the U .S . and, of course, ist who learns from and lives with (rather Canada (though the Harper government than merely visits) the people she’s cover- was criticized for doing so little), Fahmy ing . To help her get closer to her subjects, was given a second trial . Found guilty Ulle Baum she hired an Iraqi woman named Ahlam . once again, he received a sentence of three In the chaos of war and politics, the two years . In the end, the redoubtable human became genuine friends, bonding through, rights lawyer Amal Clooney was able to for example, the discovery that the Syr- do what John Kerry and others could not, ian situation had greatly complicated and got him sprung . He, too, now teaches their relations with their respective male at UBC . The story that Fahmy and Shaben partners . One day, Ahlam was grabbed relate is stomach-turning in places . The by the secret police in front of Campbell’s writing is masterful . The book is being eyes, disappearing into a prison . When made into a feature film . freed, she managed to make a new life in Chicago, but everything she had been And finally … through (including a kidnapping) could In Spies in the Congo (Publishers Group not be erased . Campbell, a fine stylist, tells Canada, $37 .50) Susan Williams, a British the whole heartbreaking story in A Disap- academic, reveals what must surely be one pearance in Damascus: A Story of Friendship of the very last secrets of the Second World and Survival in the Shadow of War (Knopf War . In 1944, the U .S . needed to develop a Canada, $32) . It’s a book that a reader will reliable source of uranium for the Manhat- never forget — and one that deserves the tan Project while also keeping the stuff out awards it’s already won . of Nazi hands . The best supply to be had A somewhat similar horror story, told was in Katanga province in the southeast- every bit as well, though with a happier ern part of what was in those days (and For 10 or 1,300 people ending, is The Marriott Cell: An Epic Journey until 1960) called the Belgian Congo . So CREATIVITY, PROMOTION from Cairo’s Scorpion Prison to Freedom by Franklin Roosevelt’s wartime intelligence AND PUBLICITY Mohamed Fahmy and Carol Shaben (Ran- organization, the Office of Strategic Ser- to raise the public profile dom House Canada, $34 .95) . One fact that vices or OSS, set up a shop in the capital, sets the book apart is that Fahmy, a dual Léopoldville, a place that was already full of your organization Canadian-Egyptian citizen, came to be of spies because the region was exporting seen as a sort of living martyr within the copper, iron and rubber — commodities in international journalistic profession . He demand by the various warring states . Diplomatic outings was an experienced pro who had covered The OSS is known for having recruited the start of the Iraq war for the Los Angeles many staff with little or no military experi- National Days Times and later became a familiar presence ence and/or absolutely none whatsoever Foreign Dignitaries Visits on CNN . He was named the Cairo bureau in espionage . The group that was sent to Conferences & fundraising events chief of Al Jazeera’s English-language arm the city now called Kinshasa was led by a Concerts, festivals, exhibits in 2013 . That was the year that Mohamed civil engineer who wrote pulp fiction and & fashion shows Morsi, the Egyptian president, was over- staffed by, for example, two ornithologists thrown in a coup, an event that led to and a woman who had been a friend of Bus tours & boat cruises large-scale violence and mass arrests . novelist F . Scott Fitzgerald . The engineer Catering Among those jailed were Fahmy and proved particularly adept at surviving as- two of his colleagues . They were accused sassination attempts . of having been members of the Muslim In 1947, the OSS was supplanted by the Brotherhood, the political party that had new Central Intelligence Agency, which been outlawed a few days earlier on the became even more alert in the region grounds of being a terrorist organization . when the Soviet Union got “the Bomb” The actual charge was electronic “defama- in 1949 . The revenue from uranium sales tion of Egypt” from a base the men rented was a godsend for the Belgian economy . in the Cairo Marriott hotel (hence the When the Congo became independent, the book’s title) . The authorities labelled them Belgians, or most of them, went home, but a terrorist cell . It was no coincidence that the Americans remained . Indeed the CIA Al Jazeera is funded by the government of was an active presence there as recently as [email protected] Qatar, which had also lent financial sup- the late ’60s . or 613-240-4622 port to Morsi . One of the three colleagues, an Austra- George Fetherling is a novelist and lian, was pardoned and sent home, but cultural commentator .

diplomat and international canada 75 DELIGHTS|ENTERTAINING Exploring the cuisine of Madagascar

Margaret Dickenson

n the beginning, Madagascar was physically part of Africa, as were the Iislands of Seychelles, Mauritius and the Comoros . Some 165 million years ago, a cataclysmic earthquake set Madagascar free on a 45-million-year 400-kilometre northeastern journey to its current location . For millions of years, Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, has been teeming with an abundance of exotic wildlife, from wide-eyed monkey-like lemurs, giant tortoises, hundreds of species of reptiles and dozens of bats to rabbit-like jumping rats, colourful birds and so many more unique creatures . Recent archeological surveys reveal settlements dating back more than 4,000 years, but the general consensus is that seafarers from Borneo and Austronesia were the first true settlers on the island between AD 100 and 500, and that today’s Margaret Dickenson's Madagascar Shrimp with Island-Spiced Sauce. population is descended from Indonesian and Malay migrants . The seafarers arrived in outrigger canoes laden with food original irreplaceable species, including when King Ralambo, ruler of the central staples from their homelands, including dwarf hippos and giant lemurs . Despite highland kingdom of Merina, declared the rice, plantain, taro, water yams and prob- the fact that hunting lemur has been il- cattle could be eaten . ably sugarcane, ginger, coconut, bananas, legal since 1964, the practice continues for Stories of King Ralambo, auspiciously pigs and chickens . Immediately, they personal consumption in rural areas and born on the first day of the new year, established a “slash-and-burn” type of to meet the demand for exotic bush meat portray him as a near-mythical hero for agriculture, clearing virgin rainforests to from some urban restaurants . his great military victories plus signifi- grow crops . To supplement their domestic cant and enduring political and cultural food supplies, they also became gatherers Immigrants add their cuisine contributions, including to food culture . (honey, wild fruits, edible seeds and nuts, Around AD 1000, East African migrants He popularized the consumption of meat mushrooms, crocodile and bird eggs) and brought with them a type of humped- and celebrated it by establishing a New hunters (birds, lemurs, wild boar, hedge- back cattle known as zebu, plus other new Year’s festival . This festival involved an hogs, tortoises, frogs, snakes, lizards, sources of food that included sorghum, ancient ceremony called the Fandroana insects and larvae) . These early settlers bambara groundnuts and goats . Recog- (the Royal Bath) where beef confit, or jaka, probably indulged in the eggs and the nized as symbols of wealth, cattle were was prepared by putting beef in a decora- meat of aepyornis maximus (the elephant rarely eaten except after being sacrificed tive clay jar sealed with suet and storing bird), the world’s largest bird, which con- at important spiritual events such as fu- it for a year in a subterranean pit where tinued to survive in large numbers across nerals . Rather, fresh zebu milk and curds it was later shared with fellow royals and the island until the 17th Century . made up a principal part of the pastoral- subjects . Unfortunately, the hunting of game, ists’ diets . Some zebu escaped from their For dessert, festival-goers enjoyed together with the slash and burn agri- herds and established themselves in the rice boiled in milk with a honey drizzle . cultural practices, eventually led to the highlands where inhabitants believed As time when on, traditional foods were y di c kenson

extinction of almost two dozen of the them to be inedible until the 16th Century enhanced and became the seven royal l arr

76 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN ENTERTAINING|DELIGHTS

dishes, known as hanim-pitolha, and the apparently, became an export commod- Indian traders who had established a port basis of what is regarded today as Mala- ity . Trading ships took Malagasy rice to on the northwestern coast, expanded to gasy cuisine . Indeed, food played an Charleston, S .C ., forming the basis for 4,000 within only three decades and popu- important role in Madagascar’s culture . plantation rice production there . larized curries and rice-based biryanis in Previously, Ralambo’s father had intro- Trading ships travelling back from addition to the street food, such as Indian duced the marriage tradition of “rump of South Carolina, brought sweet potatoes, samosas, throughout the region . With the sheep,” wherein the groom presented corn, tomatoes, lima beans and peanuts to French colonial rule beginning in 1896, his future bride’s parents with the hind- Madagascar . Islanders soon began culti- well-embraced French baguettes, pastries quarters of a sheep — the most desirable vating these products themselves — first and desserts as well as fois gras and cold part of the animal — at the engagement in coastal regions adjacent to ports of ar- macaroni salad mixed with blanched vegetables came along . French also became the country’s official language . Mada- gascar didn’t achieve independence until 1960 .

Traditional Madagascar food In Madagascar, food has always been cooked using simple methods and techniques, such as roasting over a fire, grill- ing over hot stones or coals and boiling, first in containers made of green bamboo, then in clay pots and metal vessels . Food preservation techniques included smok- ing, sun-drying and salting . Smoked dried beef, known as kitoza, salted dried fish and many other foods are still prepared in a similar manner today . The process of fermentation was adopted early in the his- Madagascar produces 75 per cent of the world’s vanilla. Here, harvesters are transporting it through tory of Malagasy cuisine to produce curds the jungle. from milk, to amplify the flavours of particular fresh and dried tubers and to make ceremony . Madagascar Ambassador Con- rival . From there, they spread throughout alcoholic drinks . stant Horace confirms that such a tradition the country . With sailors’ need to ward The food of Madagascar is charming prevails in Malagasy society, but symbolic off scurvy during long voyages, the in- in its simplicity . A traditional Malagasy coins are usually substituted for the meat, troduction and cultivation of citrus fruits dish features an unusually large amount except in some rural areas that remain true (oranges, lemons and limes) quickly fol- of rice — the cornerstone of Malagasy to tradition . lowed . cuisine — accompanied by a modest por- Trade with Arab and Indian merchants The New World’s prickly pear cac- tion of chicken or fish, usually in a sauce, resulted in migrants who further enriched tus — known as sakafon-drano or “water and vegetables . Some claim they face a Madagascar’s culinary traditions coming food” — rapidly became an essential crop sleepless night if they have not had rice at from those areas . And even though the across the semi-arid southern region, least once a day . Rice’s prevalence remains inhabitants lived in tribes, the Africans, where consuming six pieces of fruit per in contemporary cuisine across the entire Indians and Arabs were assimilated into day eliminated a pastoralist’s need for island; however, farmers in the arid south the Malagasy-speaking society, thus drinking water . Further, their cattle were and west often substitute corn, cassava or avoiding segregation . The first Europeans nourished and hydrated by the stems . In curds made from fermented zebu milk for to land in Madagascar were Portuguese fact, the prickly pear cactus allowed these the rice . A bowl of only rice is considered explorers in 1500 . News of their discovery farmers to become better herdsmen with a very acceptable meal . Red rice for break- resulted in several attempts by the French much bigger herds . fast is ubiquitous throughout the country, and British to establish settlements . These The 19th Century witnessed a dramatic often made with extra water, producing proved unsuccessful due to disease and evolution in Malagasy cuisine — Mada- a soupy rice porridge, known as sosoa . local hostility . gascar farmers started importing and then The latter is sometimes eaten with kitoza The 17th Century saw the beginning of planting cloves, as well as coconuts and (smoked strips of zebu meat) . A traditional the transatlantic slave trade, which inten- vanilla . Ambassador Horace points out porridge, vary aminanana, includes white sified maritime trade with Malagasy ports, that today, Madagascar produces 75 per rice, meat and chopped greens . initiating a “domino-effect” that brought cent of the world supply of vanilla . As for meat, the principal source re- new food products and agricultural prac- More newcomers added other dimen- mains zebu cattle . The Malagasy people tices to Madagascar . The new food and sions to the culinary mix . The first major enjoy better cuts served as zebu steaks or practices were quickly adopted by locals influx of Chinese migrants, responding to zebu stew, while less tender pieces, cut into and incorporated into the country’s food requests for workers to build a northern small cubes, are boiled until very tender in culture . By that time, terraced, irrigated railway, introduced their own specialties, salted water along with garlic and onions, rice paddies had become so productive, including fried rice, fried noodles, noodle shredded and finally roasted . Islanders paska | D reamstime. c om w eł O paska a not only could they fulfil islanders’ needs soup and egg rolls . Heading into the 20th also consume chicken (frequently in a

:© P as a primary food crop, but they also, Century, an original community of 200 curry) and goat; but pork, although avail-

diplomat and international canada 77 DELIGHTS|ENTERTAINING able, is taboo in many areas of the country . oysters and giant shrimp . Among the 1 lb (450 g) very large shrimp, not peeled Vegetables are served simply boiled or specialties would be tilapia, fried in oil (count: 16 to 20 per lb) with spices to boost flavour . The other with garlic; rock lobster, boiled, combined 1 tbsp (15 mL) coconut oil* primary element of a traditional Mala- with a sauce of tomato, shallots, garlic, To taste, salt and crushed black pepper- gasy dish, the sauce, derives its flavours ginger and cloves and served with rice corns from onion, garlic, tomato, ginger, curry, cooked in coconut oil; and amalona, an eel To taste, fresh cilantro vanilla, coconut and, at times, herbs and split lengthwise, stuffed with pork, garlic, spices . Sauces vary by region . Generally, ginger and onion, and then sewn closed . Island Spiced Sauce one finds tomato-based sauces in the Ambassador Horace confirms that 1 stalk fresh lemongrass highlands and coconut-based sauces on traditionally, food is served steaming hot, 1 tsp (5 mL) chicken bouillon powder the coasts . adding that “cold food lacks popularity .” 3/4 cup (180 mL) hot water Flavourings of dishes also vary by 2 tsp (10 mL) coconut oil* region . Coconut-based seafood and crus- Contemporary cuisine ½ tsp (3 mL) minced fresh garlic taceans appear on the northeast coast; Today, Malagasy cuisine more robustly 1/3 tsp (2 mL) peeled and grated fresh mazing thyme, basil and lemongrass-scented blends the influences of many culinary gingerroot a dishes in the central plateaus; clove, pep- traditions, including those brought by 2 tbsp (30 mL) Pernod per, cinnamon, ginger and lemongrass- migrants from Southeast Asia, Africa, the 3 oz (85 g) soft unripened goat cheese infused recipes in the eastern part of the Arab world, India, China and Europe . 1/3 tsp (2 mL) curry powder island; kaffir lime and lemon-flavoured These migrants arrived in Madagascar af- specialties in the drier western areas and ter it was first inhabited by early seafarers 1 . Peel shrimp, leaving tails attached and into the south; and dishes infused with from Borneo and Austronesia . set aside . aromatic plants in the north along the An- Outside the home, traditional Mala- 2 . To make the Island Spiced Sauce, re- tsiranh and Amber mountain ranges . The gasy cuisine is available at eateries and move the tough outer layers of the lemon- term bredes refers to particular plants and roadside stands, while upscale restaurant grass, cut 3 inches (7 .5 cm) off the bottom vegetables that are classified in two cat- menus offer a wider variety of foreign of the stalk, split it vertically into long egories defined by flavour — mamy bredes dishes and traditional specialties, influ- slices before pounding to release flavours . are mild leaves while anamolaho are spicy; enced by foreign preparation techniques, (Discard the rest .) however, the food of Madagascar exhibits ingredients and presentations . Street 3 . In a small saucepan, dissolve instant delicious tastiness without being hot and food is popular and can include samosas, chicken bouillon powder in hot water, spicy . Those preferring extra zip in their spring rolls, brochettes, grilled or steamed add lemongrass and allow to simmer until rice or accompaniments cautiously add cassava, sweet potatoes, rice cakes known reduced to ½ cup (125 mL) . Remove from touches of chili relish (satay) that comes in as mofo gasy; steamed cakes with ground heat, strain through a sieve and discard strengths from hot to fiery spicy, or spicy peanuts, mashed bananas, honey in brown lemongrass . mango, vinegar-preserved carrots, lemon sugar wrapped in banana leaves known as 4 . In a small cast-iron skillet over medium- pickles or hot curry oil . These condiments koba; deep-fried wonton-type strings of low heat, heat 2 tsp (10 mL) of coconut oil . are served on the side to be incorporated dough called kakapizon and yogurts . Add garlic and ginger; sauté for less than according to personal taste . Please enjoy my version of Madagascar one minute, stirring constantly . Shrimp with Island Spiced Sauce . Mazotoa 5 . Add Pernod, then the goat cheese and Other specialties Homana! Bon Appétit! chicken bouillon mixture, stirring con- Ro, a Malagasy traditional dish, is typi- stantly until sauce comes to a boil . Reduce cally a broth-based soup cooked with leafy heat to a gentle simmer . vegetables . It may be served as an accom- 6 . Add curry powder and continue stirring paniment or to add flavour and moisten constantly, until the sauce is thick enough rice . Many variations exist, including the to coat the back of a spoon (i .e ., reduced to inclusion of chicken and ginger, shrimp 3/4 cup or 180 mL) . and beef, but romazava consists of a broth 7 . Heat 1 tbsp (15 mL) of coconut oil in a with zebu beef, bredes, including anamaloa large non-stick skillet over medium-low flowers, and other ingredients, such as heat . Sauté shrimp briefly on both sides, onion, tomato and ginger, to boost the seasoning with salt and crushed black complexity of flavours . Along with ro, peppercorns, just until pink with centres Malagasy folks enjoy ravitoto, a rice-based barely approaching opaque . dish with beef or pork, ground or shred- 8 . Serve shrimp immediately on a smear ded cassava leaves and, at times, with of Island Spiced Sauce and garnish with coconut milk served on the side . They also fresh cilantro leaves . Serve with rice and like other traditional meat dishes: varanga, vegetables of choice . BED - King Size $3395 which is beef simmered, shredded and NIGHT STAND $1695 braised with onions; vorivorin-kena, which * Note: There are two additions of coco- is beef tripe; khimo, a curried ground beef; nut oil . and hena kisoasy voanjubory, which is pork with cape peas . Margaret Dickenson is a cookbook Fish and crustaceans thrive in coastal Madagascar Shrimp with Island Spiced author, TV host, menu/recipe developer, waters . Coral reefs swarm with crab, octo- Sauce protocol, business and etiquette instruc- y D i c kenson

pus and squid, while mangroves harbour Makes 4 servings tor . (www .margaretstable .ca) Larr

78 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN amazing

BED - King Size $3395 NIGHT STAND $1695

diplomat and international canada 79 DELIGHTS|WINE Building a perfect wine cellar — and what to put in it

of Champagne is creamy on the palate and wine collection . For their price, Niagara has generous flavours of nut and spice . It Rieslings can be tremendous for aging . will be great to open for any occasion as it While several of the region’s wineries pro- develops over the next three to five years . duce great Rieslings, Charles Baker’s 2013 Wines from great vintages, such as Bor- Picone Vineyard ($35 through Vintages or deaux’s fantastic 2010, can also round out directly from the winery) is a particularly a collection . The 2010 Château Malartic- delicious example . Sourced from vines Pieter Van den Weghe Lagravière from Pessac-Léognan ($134 that are more than 35 years old, this Ries- through Vintages) is a perfect example . ling’s purity and energy will bring much Ample and tremendously enjoyable now, drinking pleasure anytime over the next t’s quite natural for those who enjoy this complex and hugely expressive red five years . wine to develop some nesting tenden- will drink amazingly well over at least Big bucks need not also be spent on a Icies . Things start off innocently enough, two decades, if not more . great red for the cellar . Tenuta di Ghiz- with a glass of wine when out and about, Some less-hyped vintages can still be zano’s 2012 Veneroso ($30 through Vin- or perhaps a bottle bought to be enjoyed sources of quality, age-worthy wines . Al- tages) is an excellent value for a mini at home . Then, some hoarding begins . though 2013 was challenging in France’s super-Tuscan from an organic family-run Whether it’s stashing a few bottles in the Southern Rhône, Domaine de la Vieille Ju- estate winery with only 20 hectares under closet or building a designer wine room, lienne’s Les Hauts Lieux Châteauneuf-du- vine . A blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet the result is still your own collection . Now, Pape ($104 through Vintages) would be Sauvignon, Veneroso is perfumed, spicy you can indulge in a glass of wine at a mo- a great addition to any cellar . Laden with and very expressive, and will also easily ment’s notice or pour something special for dark fruit, licorice and minerality, it also provide up to 10 years of development . guests . And, with some patience, an invest- has the concentration and structure neces- ment in the present will not only provide sary for at least 15 years of cellar aging . Pieter Van den Weghe is general manager a delicious wine in the future, but reward Again, expense doesn’t make a quality and sommelier at Beckta . you with the fascinating experience of following a wine’s development . Generally speaking, building a wine collection can take two paths . A collection can be as extravagant and no-expenses- spared as its architect’s wildest dreams: stacked with famous producers, high-scoring vintages and rare bottles . Or, if space, time and funds are not in large supply, the collection can be more casual, without los- ing the benefits of cellaring . The quality of wine in a collection, particularly if aging is a goal, isn’t defined by the attractive- ness of the cellar . As long as the bottles are stored horizontally in a cool dark area that is a little humid and devoid of vibrations or strong odours, a wine of any pedigree will develop and age . If cellaring is a new practice, much can be learned with a little experimenta- tion . Purchase wine that you expect will be a good candidate for aging in three- bottle lots . Open one bottle immediately, a second a couple of years after that and the third a few years after that one . With proper note-taking, this practice helps you determine at what age you enjoy your wines . It will also help set expectations for what aged wine tastes like . Classic wines and their price tags can help form a solid foundation for your collection, and Tarlant’s Cuvée Louis ($96 through Vintages) can be a great place to Building a wine collection — whether in a specialized cellar, or a cool, dark closet — will help you determine at what age you most enjoy your wines. start . This heady and rich Extra Brut style © Christian D e l bert | D reamstime. c om

80 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN header|DELIGHTS

20 years...Thank you!

diplomat and international canada 81 DELIGHTS|residences Pakistan’s welcoming home abroad

By Patrick Langston

Photos by Ashley Fraser

The Rockcliffe residence of the Pakistani high commissioner was built in 1929 and acquired by Pakistan in 1949. Its modified Georgian style features deep red bricks on the exterior and spacious rooms and generous halls inside.

hat the Islamic world has long carpet such as this would be made by a into a reflection of his homeland . produced stunning carpets isn’t family and take at least a year to produce, The building became Pakistan’s official Texactly breaking news . Indeed, he explains . “They get good at a pattern residence in Ottawa in 1949 . Set in the discerning Europeans were scooping and do it over and over again .” heart of Rockcliffe, it shows Georgian ar- up fine specimens as early as the 14th Like high commissioners before him, chitectural influences in the symmetry and Century . But what tickles Pakistani High he has outfitted his residence with items restraint of the exterior elevation . Inside, Commissioner Tariq Azim Khan are the — tall, ornate metal tea pots, a warm the central hall leads on one side to the sit- occasional irregularities in carpets such painting of women in shawls with their ting room, on the other to the dining area as the deep red one that adds warmth and midriffs bare and water jugs on their with kitchen beyond . Straight ahead is a texture to the expansive sitting room of heads — that, like the carpet, speak to his wide staircase with curving banister that his official residence in Rockcliffe . personal pride in Pakistan’s people and rises to the high commissioner’s private “When you see the imperfections, you culture and that help transform the resi- quarters . The home is gracious, but not know it’s made by hand,” Khan says, dence, a four-square, red brick home built overwhelmingly grand . There are heavy

running an admiring eye over it . A large in 1929 for a Canadian industrial family, white mouldings around windows and high c ommission pakistani

82 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN residences|DELIGHTS

The smaller dining room, which sits next to the larger one. The residence’s quiet elegance is heightened by deep, white mouldings and panelled wainscotting.

High Commissioner Khan says one takes a picture when a car goes by in Khan stands on one of the intricately designed carpets, handmade by Rockcliffe Park because it's such an event in the sleepy neighbourhood. Pakistani families.

diplomat and international canada 83 DELIGHTS|residences

Art in the spacious living room includes two large paintings by the late acclaimed Pakistani artist Sadequain. Between the two paintings hang framed samples of calligraphy.

84 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN residences|DELIGHTS

diplomat and international canada 85 DELIGHTS|residences doors, panelled wainscotting on the staircase and in the dining area, and a cheery fire burning in the sitting room, where one can imagine groups of official visitors and colleagues chatting and occasionally spar- ring, albeit civilly, over events of the day . When Khan moved into this home in 2015, he brought with him a couple of exquisite reproduction miniatures depicting men and women in Pakistan during the Mogul Empire . These works hang above a couch in the sitting room . “They’re colourful,” he says . “There are very few quality paintings available from those days (around) the 16th Century .” On the end wall of the same long, rect- angular room with its bright red and pat- terned throw cushions on creamy sofas, hang two framed pieces of calligraphy spelling out Islam’s 99 names for God . On either side of those, floor-to-ceiling The main dining room, with a display cabinets and two large paintings depicting traditional scenes from Pakistan. paintings by the celebrated Pakistani artist Sadequain, who died penniless in 1987, adorn the walls . They were brought to them is a team of bullocks . Khan says he The adjacent living space comprises the residence by the previous high com- likes the piece because “when I look at it, two rooms separated by a square archway missioner . I see more things in it . There’s a man driv- over a large passageway . One contains One of the paintings spotlights a lithe ing the team that I didn’t notice at first .” bookshelves, replicas of ancient statuary, a dancing girl, a less limber man swaying In the hallway hangs a reproduction of fireplace and a table for six . “I have break- behind her . The other celebrates agricul- the seal the prophet Mohammed used to fast here,” the high commissioner says . tural labour in the form of a mother, father stamp letters of introduction given to his The other dining area comfortably seats and child holding implements . Behind emissaries when they set off on missions . 10 and has glass-fronted, built-in cabinets .

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86 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN residences|DELIGHTS

Their contents include decorative plates collected by the high commissioner in Ha- waii, Niagara Falls and elsewhere . The outside yard, too, is hospitable; in more temperate weather, guests gather under marquees for informal events . A walnut tree towers in one corner . It began life as a seed planted by Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s first prime minister, in 1951 . The high commissioner notes that 2017 is the 70th anniversary of his country’s independence . It’s being marked in part by an exhibition of Pakistani arts and culture at the Horticultural Building at Lans- downe Park on Aug . 16 and 17 . The high commissioner, who spent years in private business and then served as a minister in the Pakistani government and member of the senate before joining the diplomatic corps, chats easily and with quiet certitude about everything from the A quiet corner in the smaller dining room with statuary and books. quality of Pakistani soccer balls (“we make the best sporting goods in the world”) Azim Khan and Amir Azim Khan, are matic community . to long-ago events that helped make his both lawyers like their mother, Adline The high commissioner enjoys living country what it is today (at one point, he Azim Khan, who died in 2016 . Rafi lives where he does . “It’s very quiet,” he says . fires up his phone to show a photo of a in London, England, while his younger “When you see a car pass by, you take a little dark-haired, apple-cheeked girl from brother is based in Tokyo . They haven’t photograph because it’s a rare event .” northern Pakistan, where people are said been able to visit their father since his to be descendants of Alexander the Great’s move to Rockcliffe, a neighbourhood Patrick Langston writes about homes, the soldiers) . where an evening stroll often means arts and sundry other topics in the Na- He mentions that his two sons, Rafi bumping into other members of the diplo- tional Capital Region . .

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New arrivals Lu Shaye Nimrod Barkan Ambassador of China Ambassador of Israel Stefan Pehringer Ambassador of Austria Ambassador Lu joined Ambassador Barkan is China’s foreign service a 40-year veteran of bi- Ambassador Pehringer in 1987 and one year lateral and multilateral joined the foreign min- later, he was sent to Israeli diplomacy and istry in 1996 after Guinea on a three-year policy-making . completing studies in posting as an attaché . Barkan served as law at the University He returned to head- senior assistant to the of Vienna and the Uni- quarters in 1991 and foreign minister and versity of Göttingen . held several titles over the next seven the director general . At the ministry of In his first job, he years, including deputy division director, defence, he ran and rebuilt the centre worked in the press and security policy first secretary and division director, all in for policy research during and after the departments before being sent to Lux- the African affairs department . In 1999, he second Lebanon war in 2006 . He previ- embourg as an exchange diplomat . He was named a counsellor in the same de- ously headed the world Jewish and in- returned a year later to the human rights partment and two years later, he was sent terreligious affairs bureau at the foreign department before doing an exchange to France on a two-year posting . When he ministry, and he has represented Israel in with the German foreign ministry in Bonn returned to headquarters, he became dep- various positions, including as ambassa- in 1999 . Later that year, he was posted as uty director-general in the African Affairs dor to the United States, Egypt and Paris . first secretary to Austria’s mission in Ber- department for two years, before being The ambassador, who is married and lin for four years before going to Denmark posted to Senegal as ambassador for four has two daughters, also taught interna- as deputy chief of mission for three years . years . tional relations while on the faculty of the Back at headquarters, he worked in the When he returned to the African Af- national defence college and the depart- Americas’ department and the Eastern fairs department he was named director- ment of international relations at the He- Asia and UNESCO units before becoming general, a position he held for five years . brew University in Jerusalem . ambassador to Latvia in 2011 . From 2014 In 2014, he became vice-mayor of Wuhan, to 2016, he was the diplomatic adviser to in Hubei province, for one year before Nguyen Duc Hoa the chancellor and later, the speaker of becoming director-general in the bureau Ambassador of Vietnam parliament . of policy research of the Communist Party Pehringer is married and speaks Aus- of China . Ambassador Nguyen trian, English, French, Italian and Russian . Lu is married with one son . is a career diplomat . He joined the foreign Denis Fontes De Souza Pinto Vikas Swarup ministry in 1981 as a Ambassador of Brazil High Commissioner for India desk officer in the department of Chinese Ambassador De Souza High Commissioner affairs, after which he Pinto joined the for- Swarup joined the In- was posted to Beijing eign service in 1979 dian foreign service in for four years . and then did a two- 1986, but his bigger He returned to headquarters for eight year stint at the Trade claim to fame is as the years, first as a desk official for the depart- Promotion Depart- author of Q&A, a novel ment of Chinese Affairs . In 1998, he was ment (1980-1981) . In that was adapted into named deputy director-general of the 1983, he was posted to the Oscar-winning policy planning department . Germany and three years later, he was film, Slumdog Millionaire . In 2002, he was named minister-coun- transferred to Ecuador . In August 1989, he In a career spanning more than 30 sellor and deputy chief of mission at began a two-year posting in China . years, he has served in diplomatic assign- Vietnam’s embassy in Britain, where he Back at headquarters, he worked in ad- ments in Ankara, Washington D .C ., Addis stayed for four years . From 2006 to 2009, ministration services before working un- Ababa, London, Pretoria and Osaka-Kobe . he returned to his old job as deputy direc- der the deputy minister of foreign affairs . At headquarters, Swarup has served as tor general of the policy planning depart- In 1995, he was posted as a counsellor the desk officer for Southern Africa, the ment . In 2010, he was named ambassador to Paris (1995-1998) and Pretoria (1998- U .S . and Canada, director for Pakistan, to Sweden for three years, then became 2001) . Back in Brasilia, he was the general Nepal and Bhutan and director in charge director-general of policy planning . co-ordinator for budget and finances from of the office of the minister of external af- The ambassador completed a bachelor's 2001 to 2003 and deputy chief of mission fairs . degree in international relations at the dip- to the European Union in Brussels from After serving as joint secretary of the lomatic academy of Vietnam . He studied 2003 to 2006 . United Nations, he was appointed the offi- international relations at the University After returning to headquarters, he cial spokesman for the ministry of external of California and Ho Chi Minh National headed the foreign service department affairs in April 2015 . Academy of Politics and also studied at and served as its undersecretary . Between Swarup’s wife, Aparna, is an artist the National Academy of Public Adminis- 2013 and 2017, he was ambassador to the whose work has been featured in several tration in Vietnam . Vatican, during which time he accompa- exhibitions in India and abroad . They He is married to Tran Nguyen Anh Thu nied Pope Francis to Brazil . have two sons . and has two children .

90 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN NEW ARRIVALS|dignitaries

Non-heads of mission Japan Saudi Arabia Keisuke Kubo Fawzy Abdulghani Q. Bukhari Albania Xue Dong Attaché Attaché Viktor Kalemi First secretary Minister Yiwei Chen Jordan Senegal Attaché Ismael Maddallah Suliman Salifou Diadiou Argentina Maaytah First secretary Juan Martin Muda Colombia Minister and chargé d’affaires Second secretary Maria Fernanda Forero Ramirez Tanzania Agustina Maria Alvarez Vicente First secretary Korea Fortunata Charles Ngoli Second secretary Kyoungsoo Lee Counsellor Croatia First secretary Australia Ivica Olujic Ukraine Michelle Dianne Manson Defence, naval & air attaché Nigeria Oleh Khavroniuk Deputy head of mission Mac Ogom Okwechime First secretary European Union Minister Oleksii Liashenko Brazil Maria Caridad Vicen Enguita Counsellor Maria Elisa Maia Attaché Portugal Minister Monica Maria De Magalhaes United Kingdom Germany Moutinho Natalie Louise Hearn Bulgaria Marion Fuss First secretary First secretary Georgi Ivanov Ovcharov Attaché First secretary Qatar United States of America Greece Mohammed Khalifa H. Alnasr Rosario Pete Vasquez Chile Stefanos Ampouleris Third secretary Assistant attaché Miguel Waldo Jara Quezada Defence attaché Attaché Russia Zambia India Vladimir Proskuryakov Charlotte Mulenga Chansa- China Narender Singh Minister-counsellor Muntanga Yanqun Wang Attaché Dmitry Dzyuban First secretary First secretary First secretary Kun Lou Indonesia Anton Pichugin Zimbabwe Attaché Nadia Amalia Attaché Lawrencia Mariga Deqi Xu Third secretary Second secretary First secretary

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diplomat and international canada 91 DELIGHTS|envoy’s album

1. 2.

4. 1. Finnish Ambassador Vesa Ilmari Lehtonen and his wife, Pirjetta Julia Manninen, hosted an independence day reception at their residence. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 2. The Chinese Embassy hosted a reception for the Canada- China Friendship Society of Ottawa in celebration of the society's 40th anniversary. The event included dinner and a short film presentation. From left, Luna Yap, founding member CCFSO, Lolan Merklinger, past president, CCFSO; Wang Wentian, China’s chargé d'affaires, Roy Atkinson, co-president of CCFSO, and Lv Yongjiu, wife of the minister-counsellor for culture at the embassy of China. (Photo: by Ülle Baum) 3. The European Union’s annual holiday concert took place at Notre Dame Cathedral. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 4. Qatari Ambassador Fahad Mohamed Kafoud hosted a national day celebration at the Fairmont Château Laurier. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 5. Latvian Ambassador Kãrlis Eihenbaums paid a visit to Mayor Jim Watson, right. (Photo: City of Ottawa) 6. Mayor Jim Watson, right, received a visit from Kosovar Ambassador Lulzim Hiseni. (Photo: City of Ottawa)

92 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN envoy’s album|DELIGHTS

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5. 1. Kazakh Ambassador Konstantin Zhigalov and his wife, Indira Zhigalova, hosted a reception for the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence day at the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel. From left, Maria Yeganian, Zhigalov, Zhigalova and Armenian Ambassador Armen Yeganian. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 2. Austrian Ambassador Stefan Pehringer and his wife, Debra, hosted a reception on the occasion of his presentation of credentials. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 3. Barbadian High Commissioner Yvonne Walkes, left, hosted a reception at City Hall to mark the 50th anniversary of the independence of Barbados. Roy Norton, Chief of Protocol of Canada attended. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 4. Bangladeshi High Commissioner Mizanur Rahman and his wife, Nishat Rahman, were guests of honour at the annual gala of AlivEducation, which took place at Overbrook Community Centre. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 5. The British High Commission hosted a holiday drinks event. Colin Horton, left, trade officer in the defence and security sector, chatted with defence adviser Brig. Jonathan Calder-Smith. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 6. Japanese Ambassador Kenjiro Monjii and his wife, Etsuko, hosted a chamber concert followed by a buffet dinner at their residence as a fundraiser in support of the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Here, the ambassador is showing off his instrument cufflinks. (Lois Siegel)

diplomat and international canada 93 DELIGHTS|envoy’s album

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5. 3.

1. UAE Ambassador Mohammed Saif Helal Alshehhi hosted a national day reception at the Fairmont Château Laurier Hotel. He’s shown here with Capt. Aysha Al Hamili, the UAE's permanent representative to the Inter- national Civil Aviation Organization. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 2. Sami Haddad, counsellor and chargé d'affaires for Lebanon, and his wife, Nadia, hosted a national day reception at the St. Elias Centre. Geoff Regan, Speaker of the House of Commons, right, attended. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 3. Ice dragon-boating made a debut this year at Winterlude. Shown here are the Polar Pandas, a team made up of Global Affairs Canada employees and diplomats from the Chinese embassy. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 4. Pakistani High Commissioner Tariq Azim Khan and his press officer, Nadeem Haider Kiani, hosted a dinner at the high commissioner’s residence for members of the press. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 5. Cuban Ambassador Julio Antonio Garmendía Peña, centre, and his wife, Miraly, hosted a national day reception. They were joined by Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 6. The launch for the 7th edition of Bright Nights: The Baltic Nordic Film Festival took place at Arts Court Theatre. Tom McSorley, left, executive director of the Canadian Film Institute, and Latvian Ambassador Karlis Eihenbaum attended. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 4.

94 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN envoy’s album|DELIGHTS

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3. 1. The Ottawa Diplomatic Ball, produced by the Ottawa Diplomatic Association, took place at the Hilton Lac-Leamy. It opened with a five-course meal and dancing. From left: Thai dancers Prim Natasha Isarabhakdi, daughter of the ambassador of Thailand; Nam Benjarat Apiwattananon; Dianna Khenmanisoth and Sasi Phaewtakhu. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 2. Mahmoud Eboo, Ottawa’s resident representative of the Aga Khan, and his wife, Karima, attended the ball. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 3. Venezuelan Ambassador Wilmer Omar Barrientos Fernandez, who is on the executive of the Ottawa Diplomatic Association, attended the ball. He’s seen here with fellow guest, Senate Speaker George Furey. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 4. Borden Ladner Gervais LLP hosted a roundtable discussion with the Embassy of China titled “The four comprehensives, strategy and China's development.” Guo Yezhou, vice minister of the central committee of the Communist Party of China’s international department, is shown with Marc Jolicoeur, left, Ottawa regional managing partner of Borden Ladner Gervais. (Photo: Ülle Baum)

diplomat and international canada 95 DELIGHTS|envoy’s album

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Extended Stay Rates Available 1. Slovak Ambassador Andrej Droba and his wife, Daniela Drobova, hosted a reception and art exhibition, fea- turing the work of Slovak native Susan Kundstadt, right. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 2. Italian Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado and his wife, Martine, and daughter, Julia, hosted an Italian Christmas dinner buffet at their residence in Aylmer. (Photo: Ülle Baum) 3. Philippines Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia hosted a cocktail party at her embassy to celebrate the New Year. She’s shown with deputy head of mission Francisco Fernandez. (Photo: Lois Siegel) 4. Carleton University hosted a conference titled "Canada-Russia: Dialogue and Co-operation in the Arctic.” 130 Besserer Street, Ottawa From left, Vladimir Barbin, ambassador-at-large for Arctic Co-operation for Russia’s ministry of foreign affairs 1-800-267-1989 • 613-232-2000 and Russia’s senior Arctic official at the Arctic Council; Alison LeClaire, director-general, Global Affairs Canada www.les-suites.com and senior Arctic official and Russian Ambassador Alexander Darchiev. (Photo: Ülle Baum)

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613-237-3662 120-350 Albert OttA w A diplomat and international canada 97 AFGHANISTAN AUSTRIA BOLIVIA CAMEROON Her Ex . Shinkai Karokhail His Ex . Stefan Pehringer His Ex . Pablo Guzmán Laugier 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 Afghanistan 445 Wilbrod Street 130 Albert Street, Suite 416 High Commission for the Republic of 240 Argyle Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M7 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Cameroon Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1B9 TEL 613-789-1444 FAX 613-789-3431 TEL 613-236-5730 FAX 613-236-8237 170 Clemow Avenue TEL 613-563-4223 FAX 613-563-4962 ottawa-ob@bmeia .gv .at bolivianembassy@bellnet .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2B4 contact@afghanemb-canada .net www .emboliviacanada .com TEL 613-236-1522 FAX 613-236-3885 www .afghanemb-canada .net AZERBAIJAN cameroon@rogers .com Mr . Ramil Huseynli BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA www .hc-cameroon-ottawa .org contacts ALBANIA Chargé d’Affaires Her Ex. Koviljka Špirić His Ex . Ermal Muça Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina CHAD Embassy of the Republic of Albania 275 Slater Street, Suite 1203 17 Blackburn Avenue, His Ex . Mahamat Ali Adoum 130 Albert Street, Suite 302 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9 Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 8A2 Embassy of the Republic of Chad Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 TEL 613-288-0497 FAX 613-230-8089 TEL 613-236-0028 FAX 613-236-1139 350 Sparks Street, Suite 802 TEL 613-236-4114 FAX 613-236-0804 azerbaijan@azembassy .ca Email: info@bhembassy .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 embassy .ottawa@mfa .gov .al www .azembassy .ca www .ambasadabih .ca TEL . 613-680-3322/ 613-421-1189 FAX 613-695-6622 ALGERIA BAHAMAS BRAZIL info@chadembassy .ca His Ex . Hocine Meghar His Ex . Calsey Johnson His Ex . Denis Fontes De Souza Pinto www .chadembassy .ca Embassy of the People’s Democratic Bahamas High Commission Embassy of the Federative Republic Republic of Algeria 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1313 of Brazil CHILE 500 Wilbrod Street Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 450 Wilbrod Street His Ex . Alejandro Marisio Cugat Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N2 TEL . 613-232-1724 FAX 613-232-0097 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6M8 Embassy of the Republic of Chile TEL 613-789-8505 FAX 613-789-1406 ottawa-mission@bahighco .com TEL 613-237-1090 FAX 613-237-6144 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1413 www .embassyalgeria .ca/eng .htm www .bahamas .com mailbox@brasembottawa .org Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 info@embassyalgeria .ca TEL 613-235-9940 FAX 613-235-1176

diplomatic BANGLADESH BRUNEI DARUSSALAM www .chile .ca ANGOLA His Ex . Mizanur Rahman His Ex . Pg Kamal Bashah Pg Ahmad His Ex . Edgar Gaspar Martins High Commission for the People’s High Commission for Brunei CHINA Embassy of the Republic of Angola Republic of Bangladesh Darussalam His Ex . Lu Shaye 189 Laurier Avenue East 350 Sparks Street, Suite 1100 395 Laurier Avenue East Embassy of the People’s Republic Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6P1 Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R4 of China TEL 234-1152 FAX 234-1179 TEL 613-236-0138 FAX 613-567-3213 TEL 613-234-5656 FAX 613-234-4397 515 St . Patrick Street info@embangola-can .org bangla@rogers .com bhco@bellnet .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5H3 www .embangola-can .org www .bdhc .org TEL 613-789-3434 FAX 613-789-1911 BULGARIA chinaemb_ca@mfa .gov .cn ARGENTINA BARBADOS His Ex . Nikolay Milkov http://ca .china-embassy .org His Ex . Marcelo Gabriel Suárez Salvia Her Ex . Yvonne V . Walkes Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria Embassy of the Argentine Republic High Commission for Barbados 325 Stewart Street COLOMBIA 81 Metcalfe Street 7th Floor 55 Metcalfe St ., Suite 470 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K5 His Ex . Nicolas Lloreda-Ricaurte Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6K7 Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6L5 TEL 613-789-3215 FAX 613-789-3524 Embassy of the Republic of Colombia TEL 613-236-2351 FAX 613-235-2659 TEL 613-236-9517 FAX 613-230-4362 embgottawa@hotmail .com 360 Albert Street, Suite 1002 ecana@mrecic gov. .ar ottawa@foreign .gov .bb Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 www .ecana .mrecic .gob .ar BURKINA FASO TEL 613-230-3760 FAX 613-230-4416 BELARUS His Ex . Amadou Adrien Koné embajada@embajadacolombia .ca ARMENIA Embassy of the Republic of Belarus Embassy of Burkina Faso www .embajadacolombia .ca His Ex . Armen Yeganian 130 Albert Street, Suite 600 48 Range Road Embassy of the Republic of Armenia Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 CONGO (ZAIRE) 7 Delaware Avenue TEL 613-233-9994 FAX 613-233-8500 TEL 613-238-4796 FAX 613-238-3812 Mr . Jean-Claude Kalelwa Kalimasi Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0Z2 canada@mfa .gov .by burkina .faso@sympatico .ca Chargé d'affaires TEL 613-234-3710 FAX 613-234-3444 www .ambaburkina-canada .org Embassy of the Democratic Republic armcanadaembassy@mfa .am BELGIUM of the Congo www .armembassycanada .ca His Ex . Raoul Delcorde BURUNDI 18 Range Road Embassy of Belgium Mr . Emmanuel Niyonzima Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J3 AUSTRALIA 360 Albert Street, Suite 820 Chargé d'affaires TEL 613-230-6582 FAX 613-230-1945 His Ex . Tony Negus Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 350 Albert Street, Suite 410 info@ambassadesrdcongo org. Australian High Commission TEL 613-236-7267 FAX 613-236-7882 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1A4 50 O’Connor, Suite 710 ottawa@diplobel .fed .be TEL 613-234-9000 FAX 613-234-4030 COSTA RICA Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 www .diplomatie .be/ottawa ambabottawa@yahoo .ca His Ex . Roberto Carlos Dormon Cantú TEL 613-236-0841 FAX 786-7621 www .ambassadeduburundi .ca Embassy of the Republic of Costa Rica www .canada .embassy .gov .au BENIN 350 Sparks St . Suite 701 His Ex . S .E .M . Pamphile C . Goutondji Ottawa, ON, K1R 7S8 Embassy of the Republic of Benin TEL 613-562-2855 FAX 613-562-2582 58 Glebe Avenue embcr@costaricaembassy .com Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2C3 www .costaricaembassy .com TEL 613-233-4429 FAX 613-233-8952 ambaben@benin .ca

98 98 | EMBASSIES | HIGH COMMISSIONS ‑ | OTHER INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN CÔTE D’IVOIRE ESTONIA GUATEMALA IRAN His Ex . N'Goran Kouame Her Ex . Gita Kalmet His Ex . Carlos Humberto Jiménez Embassy of the Islamic Embassy of the Republic of Embassy of the Republic of Estonia Licona Republic of Iran Côte d’Ivoire 260 Dalhousie Street, Suite 210 Embassy of the Republic of 245 Metcalfe Street 9 Marlborough Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7E4 Guatemala Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K2 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8E6 TEL . 613-789-4222 FAX 613-789-9555 130 Albert Street, Suite 1010 TEL 613-235-4726 FAX 613-232-5712 TEL . 613-236-9919 FAX 613-563-8287 embassy .ottawa@mfa .ee Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 executive@iranembassy .ca acica@ambaci-ottawa .org www .estemb .ca TEL . 613-233-7237 FAX 613-233-0135 www .salamiran .org www .ambaci-ottawa org. embassy1@embaguate-canada .com ETHIOPIA www .embaguate-canada .com IRAQ CROATIA Her Ex . Birtukan Ayano Dadi His Ex . Adbul Kareem Kaab contacts His Ex. Marica Matković Embassy of the Federal Democratic GUINEA Embassy of the Republic of Iraq Embassy of the Republic of Croatia Republic of Ethiopia His Ex . Saramady Touré 215 McLeod Street 229 Chapel Street 275 Slater St ., suite 1501 Embassy of the Republic of Guinea Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0Z8 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7Y6 Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H9 483 Wilbrod Street TEL . 613-236-9177 FAX 613-236-9641 TEL . 613-562-7820 FAX 613-562-7821 613-565-6637 x 214 FAX 613-565-9175 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N1 www .iqemb .ca croemb .ottawa@mvep .hr info@ethioembassycanada .org TEL . 613-789-8444 FAX 613-789-7560 media@iqemb .ca www .croatiaemb net. ethioconsulatecanada .org ambaguiottawa@mae .gov .gn IRELAND CUBA European Union GUYANA His Ex . Jim Kelly His Ex . Julio Antonio Garmendía Her Ex . Marie-Anne Coninsx Her Ex . Clarissa Sabita Riehl Embassy of Ireland Peña Delegation of the European Union High Commission for the Republic 130 Albert Street, Suite 1105 Embassy of the Republic of Cuba to Canada of Guyana Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 388 Main Street 150 Metcalfe St . Suite 1900 151 Slater Street, Suite 800 TEL . 613-233-6281 FAX 613-233-5835 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1E3 Ottawa, ON K2P1P1 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 Ottawaembassy@dfa .ie TEL . 613-563-0141 FAX 613-563-0068 TEL . 613-238-6464 FAX 613-238-5191 TEL . 613-235-7249 FAX 613-235-1447 www .embassyofireland .ca embacuba@embacubacanada .net Delegation-Canada@eeas .europa .eu guyanahcott@rogers .com

www .cubadiplomatica cu/canada. www .eeas .europa .eu/delegations/ ISRAEL diplomatic canada HAITI His Ex . Nimrod Barkan CZECH REPUBLIC His Ex . Frantz Liautaud Embassy of Israel His Ex. Pavel Hrnčíř FINLAND Embassy of the Republic of Haiti 50 O’Connor Street, Suite 1005 Embassy of the Czech Republic His Ex . Vesa Ilmari Lehtonen 85 Albert Street, Suite 1110, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 251 Cooper Street Embassy of the Republic of Finland Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5G4 TEL 613-750-7500 FAX 613-750-7555 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0G2 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 850 TEL 613-238-1628 FAX 613-238-2986 information@ottawa .mfa .gov .il TEL . 613-562-3875 FAX 613-562-3878 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L5 amb .canada@diplomatie .ht www .embassies .gov .il/ottawa ottawa@embassy .mzv .cz TEL . 613-288-2233 FAX 613-288-2244 embassy@finland .ca HOLY SEE ITALY CYPRUS His Ex . Most Reverend Luigi Bonazzi His Ex . Gian Lorenzo Cornado His Ex . Pavlos Anastasiades FRANCE Apostolic Nunciature Embassy of the Italian Republic High Commissioner His Ex . Nicolas Chapuis 724 Manor Avenue 275 Slater Street, 21st Floor High Commission for the Republic Embassy of France Ottawa, Ontario K1M 0E3 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H9 of Cyprus 42 Sussex Drive TEL 613-746-4914 FAX 613-746-4786 TEL 613-232-2401 FAX 613-233-1484 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1002 Ottawa, Ontario K1M 2C9 ambasciata .ottawa@esteri .it Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1P1 TEL 613-789-1795 FAX 613-562-3735 HONDURAS www .ambottawa .esteri .it TEL 613-563-9763 FAX 613-563-1953 www .ambafrance-ca .org Her Ex . Sofia Cerrato ottawahighcom@mfa .gov .cy Embassy of the Republic of JAMAICA GABON Honduras Her Ex . Janice Miller DENMARK His Ex . Sosthène Ngokila 151 Slater Street, Suite 805 Jamaican High Commission His Ex . Niels Boel Abrahamsen Embassy of the Gabonese Republic Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 151 Slater Street, Suite 1000 Royal Danish Embassy 4 Range Road, P .O . Box 368 TEL 613-233-8900 FAX 613-232-0193 Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5H3 47 Clarence Street, Suite 450 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J5 TEL 613-233-9311 FAX 613-233-0611 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9K1 TEL . 613-232-5301 FAX 613-232-6916 HUNGARY executiveassistant@jhcottawa .ca TEL . 613-562-1811 ambgabon2000@yahoo .fr His Ex . Bálint Ódor ottamb@um .dk Embassy of the Republic of Hungary JAPAN canada .um .dk GEORGIA 299 Waverley Street His Ex . Kenjiro Monji His Ex . Alexander Latsabidze Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0V9 Embassy of Japan DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Embassy of Georgia TEL . 613-230-2717 FAX 613-230-7560 255 Sussex Drive His Ex . Virgilio Alcántara 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 2101 www .mfa .gov .hu/emb/ottawa Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9E6 Embassy of the Dominican Republic Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1 mission .ott@kum .hu TEL 613-241-8541 FAX 613-241-2232 130 Albert Street, Suite 1605 TEL 613-421-0460 FAX 613-680-0394 infocul@ot .mofa .go .jp Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 ottawa .emb@mfa .gov .ge ICELAND www .ca .emb-japan .go .jp TEL . 613-569-9893 FAX 613-569-8673 His Ex . Sturla Sigurjónsson www .drembassy .org GERMANY Embassy of Iceland JORDAN His Ex . Werner Wnendt 360 Albert Street, Suite 710 Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom ECUADOR Embassy of the Federal Republic of Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7 of Jordan His Ex . Nicolás Fabian Trujillo- Germany TEL . 613-482-1944 FAX 613-482-1945 100 Bronson Avenue, Suite 701 Newlin 1 Waverley Street icemb .ottawa@utn .stjr .is Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6G8 Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0T8 www .iceland .org .ca TEL . 613-238-8090 FAX 613-232-3341 99 Bank Street, Suite 230 TEL 613-232-1101 FAX 613-594-9330 www .embassyofjordan .ca Ottawa, ON K1P 6B9 info@otta .diplo .de INDIA ottawa@fm .gov .jo (embassy) TEL . 613-563-8206 FAX 613-235-5776 http:/www .ottawa .diplo .de His Ex . Vikas Swarup ottawa-consular@fm .gov .jo (consular) www .embassyecuador .ca High Commission for the Republic GHANA of India KAZAKHSTAN EGYPT His Ex . Sulley Gariba 10 Springfield Road His Ex . Konstantin Zhigalov His Ex . Motaz Mounir Zahran High Commission for the Republic Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1C9 Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt of Ghana TEL . 613-744-3751 FAX 613-744-0913 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1603-1604 454 Laurier Avenue East 1 Clemow Ave . hicomind@hciottawa .ca Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1P1 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R3 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2A9 www .hciottawa .ca Tel 613-695-8055 Fax 613-695-8755 TEL . 613-234-4931 FAX 613-234-4398 TEL 613-236-0871 FAX 613-236-0874 Email: kazakhembassy@gmail .com egyptemb@sympatico .ca ghanacom@ghc-ca .com INDONESIA www .kazembassy .ca www .mfa .gov .eg www .ghc-ca .com His Ex . Teuku Faizasyah Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia KENYA EL SALVADOR GREECE 55 Parkdale Avenue His Ex . John Lepi Lanyasunya His Ex . Edgar Ferman Palacios His Ex . George L . Marcantonatos Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 1E5 High Commission for the Republic Bermúdez Embassy of the Hellenic Republic TEL 613-724-1100 FAX 613-724-1105 of Kenya Embassy of the Republic of El Salvador 80 MacLaren Street info@indonesia-ottawa .org 415 Laurier Avenue East 209 Kent Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0K6 www .indonesia-ottawa .org Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6R4 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1Z8 TEL 613-238-6271 FAX 613-238-5676 TEL . 613-563-1773 FAX 613-233-6599 TEL . 613-238-2939 FAX 613-238-6940 gremb .otv@mfa .gr kenyahighcommission@rogers com. embajada@elsalvador-ca .org www .mfa .gr/canada www .kenyahighcommission .ca

diplomat and international canada | EMBASSIES | HIGH COMMISSIONS ‑ | OTHER INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 99 99 KOSOVO MALAYSIA NicAragua QATAR His Ex . Lulzim Hiseni Her Ex . Dato’ Aminahtun Hj A Karim Her Ex . Natalia Quant Rodriguez His Ex . Fahad bin Mohamed Y . Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo High Commission for Malaysia Embassy of the Republic of Kafoud 200 Elgin Street, suite 501 60 Boteler Street Nicaragua Embassy of the State of Qatar Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L5 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8Y7 Ottawa, Ontario 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 800 TEL: 613-569-2828 FAX 613-569-4848 TEL 613-241-5182 FAX 613-241-5214 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1P1 embassy .canada@rks-gov .net mwottawa@kln .gov .my NIGERIA TEL 613-241-4917 FAX 613-241-3304 www .mfa-ks .net High Commission for the Federal amb .office@qatarembassy .ca MALI Republic of Nigeria KOREA, REPUBLIC His Ex . Mahamadou Diarra ROMANIA contacts 295 Metcalfe Street His Ex . Daeshik Jo Embassy of the Republic of Mali Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1R9 Embassy of Romania Embassy of the Republic of Korea 50 Goulburn Avenue TEL 613-236-0521 FAX 613-236-0529 655 Rideau Street 150 Boteler Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8C8 www .nigeriahcottawa .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6A3 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5A6 TEL 613-232-1501 FAX 613-232-7429 TEL 613-789-3709 FAX 613-789-4365 TEL 613-244-5010 FAX 613-244-5034 ambassadedumali@rogers .com NORWAY Romania@romanian-embassy .com canada@mofa .go .kr www .ambamalicanada .org Her Ex . Anne Kari Hansen Ovind http://ottawa .mae .ro http://can-ottawa .mofa .go .kr Royal Norwegian Embassy MEXICO 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1300 RUSSIA KUWAIT His Ex . Agustin García-López Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1 Ex . Alexander N . Darchiev Abdulhamid Alfailakawi Embassy of the United Mexican TEL 613-238-6571 FAX 613-238-2765 Embassy of the Russian Federation Embassy of the State of Kuwait States emb .ottawa@mfa .no 285 Charlotte Street 333 Sussex Drive 45 O’Connor Street, Suite 1000 www .emb-norway .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L5 Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 1J9 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4 TEL 613-235-4341 FAX 613-236-6342 TEL 613-780-9999 FAX 613-780-9905 TEL 613-233-8988 FAX 613-235-9123 PAKISTAN info@rusembassy .ca www .embassyofkuwait .ca infocan@sre .gob .mx His Ex . Tariq Azim Khan www .rusembassy .ca www .embamexcan .com High Commission for the Islamic LATVIA Republic of Pakistan RWANDA diplomatic His Ex . Karlis Eihenbaums MOLDOVA 10 Range Road High Commission for the Republic Embassy of the Republic of Latvia Her Ex . Ala Beleavschi Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J3 of Rwanda 350 Sparks Street, Suite 1200 Embassy of the Republic of Moldova TEL 613-238-7881 FAX 613-238-7296 294 Albert Street, Suite 404 Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8 275 Slater Street, Suite 801 parepottawa@rogers .com Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6E6 TEL . 613-238-6014 FAX 613-238-7044 Ottawa, ON K1P 5H9 Phone: 569-5420/22/24 embassy .canada@mfa .gov .lv TEL 613-695-6167 FAX 613-695-6164 PALESTINE Fax : 569-5421/5423 www .ottawa .mfa gov. .lv ottawa@mfa .md Mr . Nabil Maarouf ambaottawa@minaffet .gov .rw www .canada .mfa .md Chief representative canada .embassy .gov .rw LEBANON Palestinian General Delegation Embassy of Lebanon MONGOLIA 18 The Driveway SAUDI ARABIA 640 Lyon Street His Ex . Altangarel Radnaabazar Ottawa, Ontario K2P 9C6 His Ex . Naif Bin Bandir Alsudairy Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3Z5 Embassy of Mongolia TEL 613-736-0053 FAX 613-736-0535 Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia TEL 613-236-5825 FAX 613-232-1609 151 Slater Street, Suite 503 Ottawa, palestinegd@gmail .com 201 Sussex Drive info@lebanonembassy .ca Ontario K1P 5H3 Ottawa, ON K1N 1K6 www .lebanonembassy .ca TEL 613-569-3830 FAX 613-569-3916 PANAMA Tel 237-4100 Fax 237-0567 His Ex . Alberto Arosemena Medina caemb@mofa .gov .sa LESOTHO MOROCCO Embassy of the Republic of Panama www .saudiembassy .ca Her Ex . Mathabo Theresia Tsepa His Ex . Mohammed Lotfi Aouad 130 Albert Street, Suite 300 High Commission for the Kingdom Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 SENEGAL of Lesotho 38 Range Road TEL 613-236-7177 FAX 613-236-5775 His Ex . Ousmane Paye 130 Albert Street, Suite 1820 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 embassyofpanama@gmail .com Embassy of the Republic of Senegal Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4 TEL 613-236-7391 FAX 613-236-6164 57 Marlborough Avenue Tel 613-234-0770 Fax 613-234-5665 www .ambamaroc .ca/Nouveau/site- PARAGUAY Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8E8 lesotho .ottawa@bellnet .ca Amba .html His Ex . Julio Cesar Arriola Ramirez TEL 613-238-6392 FAX 613-238-2695 Embassy of the Republic of Paraguay Info@ambsencanada .org LIBYA MYANMAR 151 Slater Street, Suite 501 His Ex . Fathi Baja His Ex . Kyaw Myo Htut Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 SERBIA Embassy of Libya Embassy of the Republic of the Union TEL . 613-567-1283 FAX 613-567-1679 His Ex . Mihailo Papazoglu Suite 1000, 81 Metcalfe Street of Myanmar embassy@embassyofparaguay .ca Embassy of the Republic of Serbia Ottawa, Ontario, K 1P 6K7 336 Island Park Drive 21 Blackburn Avenue TEL 613-842-7519, 613-680-2009 Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y OA7 PERU Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8A2 FAX 613-842-8627 TEL . 232-9990 Her Ex . Marcela Lopez Bravo TEL 613-233-6289 FAX 613-233-7850 info@embassyoflibya .ca FAX . 232-6999 Embassy of the Republic of Peru diplomat@serbianembassy .ca www .embassyoflibya .ca meottawa@rogers .com 130 Albert Street, Suite 1901 www .ottawa .mfa .gov .rs Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 LITHUANIA nepal TEL 613-238-1777 FAX 613-232-3062 SLOVAK REPUBLIC Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania His Ex . Kali Prasad Pokhrel emperuca@bellnet .ca His Ex . Andrej Droba 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1600 Embassy of Nepal Embassy of the Slovak Republic Ottawa, ON K2P 1P1 408 Queen Street PHILIPPINES 50 Rideau Terrace TEL 613-567-5458 FAX 613-567-5315 Ottawa, ON K1R 5A7 Her Ex . Petronila P . Garcia Ottawa, Ontario K1M 2A1 ottawa@lithuanianembassy .ca TEL 613-680-5513 FAX 613-422-5149 Embassy of the Republic of the TEL 613-749-4442 FAX 613-749-4989 www .lithuanianembassy .ca secretary_nepalembassy@rogers .com Philippines emb .ottawa@mzv .sk 30 Murray Street, www .mzv .sk/ottawa MACEDONIA (REPUBLIC OF) NETHERLANDS Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5M4 His Ex . Toni Dimovski His Ex . Henk van der Zwan TEL 613-233-1121 FAX 613-233-4165 SLOVENIA Embassy of the Republic Embassy of the Kingdom of the embassyofphilippines@rogers .com His Ex . Marjan Cencen of Macedonia Netherlands Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia 130 Albert Street, Suite 1006 350 Albert Street, Suite 2020 POLAND 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 2200 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1A4 Embassy of the Republic of Poland Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1P1 TEL . 613-234-3882 FAX 613-233-1852 TEL 613-670-6038 FAX 613-237-6471 443 Daly Avenue TEL 613-565-5781 FAX 613-565-5783 ottawa@mfa gov. .mk Ott-cdp@minbuza .nl Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6H3 vot@gov .si TEL 613-789-0468 FAX 613-789-1218 www .ottawa .embassy .si MADAGASCAR NEW ZEALAND ottawa .info@msz .gov .pl His Ex . Simon Constant Horace His Ex . Daniel Mellsop www .ottawa .mfa .gov .pl SOUTH AFRICA Embassy of the Republic of New Zealand High Commission His Ex . Membathisi Shepherd Mdladlana Madagascar 150 Elgin Street, Suite 1401 PORTUGAL High Commission for the Republic of 3 Raymond Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1L4 His Ex . José Fernando Moreira da South Africa Ottawa, Ontario K1R 1A3 TEL 613-238-5991 FAX 613-238-5707 Cunha 15 Sussex Drive TEL 613-567-0505 FAX 613-567-2882 info@nzhcottawa .org Embassy of Portugal Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1M8 ambamadcanada@bellnet .ca www .nzembassy .com/canada 645 Island Park Drive TEL 613-744-0330 FAX 613-741-1639 www .madagascar-embassy .ca Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0B8 rsafrica@southafrica-canada .ca TEL 613-729-0883 FAX 613-729-4236 www .southafrica-canada .ca embportugal@ottawa .dgaccp .pt

100 | EMBASSIES | HIGH COMMISSIONS ‑ | OTHER INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Spring 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN SPAIN TANZANIA UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ZAMBIA His Ex . Carlos Gómez-Múgica Sanz His Ex . Jack Mugendi Zoka Mohammed Saif Helal Al Shehhi High Commission for the Republic Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain High Commission for the United 125 Boteler Street of Zambia 74 Stanley Avenue Republic of Tanzania Ottawa, Ontario K1N 0A4 151 Slater St ., Suite 205 Ottawa, Ontario K1M 1P4 50 Range Road TEL 613-565-7272 FAX 613-565-8007 Ottawa, Ontario TEL 613-747-2252 FAX 613-744-1224 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 Consulate FAX 613-565-1444 K1B 5H3 embespca@mail .mae .es TEL 613-232-1509 FAX 613-232-5184 reception@uae-embassy .com TEL 613-232-4400 FAX 613-232-4410 www .embaspain ca. contact@tzrepottawa .ca www .uae-embassy .ae/ca zhc .ottawa@bellnet .ca www .tanzaniahighcommission .ca SRI LANKA UNITED KINGDOM ZIMBABWE His Ex . Ahmed Aflel Jawad THAILAND His Ex . Howard Ronald Drake Her Ex . Florence Chideya contacts High Commission for the Democratic His Ex . Vijavat Isarabhakdi British High Commission Embassy of the Republic of Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka The Royal Thai Embassy 80 Elgin Street Zimbabwe 333 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 1204 180 Island Park Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5K7 332 Somerset Street West Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1C1 Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0A2 TEL 613-237-1530 FAX 613-232-0738 Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0J9 TEL 613-233-8449 FAX 613-238-8448 TEL 613-722-4444 FAX 613-722-6624 www .ukincanada .fco .gov .uk TEL . 613-421-2824 FAX 613-422-7403 slhcit@rogers com. contact@thaiembassy .ca info@zimottawa .com www .srilankahcottawa org. www .thaiembassy .ca UN Refugee agency visa@zimottawa .com Furio de Angelis www .zimottawa .com ST KITTS & NEVIS TOGO UNHCR Representative in Canada Her . Ex . Shirley Skerritt-Andrew His Ex . Ekpao Nolaki 280 Albert Street, Suite 401 High Commission of St . Kitts & Embassy of the Togolese Republic Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G8 Nevis 12 Range Road TEL 613-232-0909 FAX 613-230-1855 421 Besserer Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J3 www .unhcr .ca Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6B9 TEL 613-238-5916 FAX 613-235-6425 TEL 613-518-2447 FAX 613-695-2449 ambatogoca@hotmail .com UNITED STATES OF AMERICA info@hcstkittsnevis ca. His Ex . Bruce Heyman

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Embassy of the United States of diplomatic SUDAN His Ex . Garth Chatoor America Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan High Commission for the Republic of 490 Sussex Drive 354 Stewart Street Trinidad and Tobago Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6K8 200 First Avenue, Third Level TEL . 613-238-5335 FAX 613-688-3088 TEL 613-235-4000 FAX 613-235-6880 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 2G6 www .usembassycanada .gov sudanembassy-canada@rogers .com TEL 613-232-2418 FAX 613-232-4349 www .sudanembassy .ca/ ottawa@ttmissions .com URUGUAY His Ex . Martin Vidal Delgado SWEDEN TUNISIA Embassy of the Oriental Republic of His Ex . Per Sjögren His Ex . Riadh Essid Uruguay Embassy of Sweden Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia 350 Sparks Street, Suite 901 377 Dalhousie Street 515 O’Connor Street Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9N8 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3P8 TEL 613-234-2727 FAX 613-233-4670 TEL 613-244-8200 FAX 613-241-2277 TEL 613-237-0330 FAX 613-237-7939 embassy@embassyofuruguay .ca sweden .ottawa@gov .se ambtun13@bellnet .ca www .swedishembassy .ca VENEZUELA TURKEY His Ex . Wilmer Omar Barrientos SWITZERLAND His Ex . Selçuk Ünal Fernandez His Ex . Beat Nobs Embassy of the Republic of Turkey Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic Embassy of Switzerland 197 Wurtemburg Street of Venezuela 5 Marlborough Avenue Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L9v 32 Range Road Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8E6 TEL 613-244-2470 FAX 613-789-3442 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J4 TEL 613-235-1837 FAX 613-563-1394 embassy .ottawa@mfa .gov .tr TEL . 235-5151 FAX 235-3205 ott .vertretung@eda .admin .ch www .turkishembassy .com embve .caotw@mppre .gob .ve www .misionvenezuela .org SYRIA UGANDA Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic His Ex . John Chrysostom Alintuma VIETNAM 46 Cartier Street Nsambu His Ex . Nguyen Duc Hoa Ottawa, ON K2P 1J3 High Commission for the Republic Embassy of the Socialist Republic of TEL 613-569-5556 FAX 613-569-3800 of Uganda Vietnam culture@syrianembassy .ca 350 Sparks Street, Suite 1210, 55 MacKay Street www .syrianembassy .ca Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8 Ottawa, K1M 2B3 TEL 613-789-7797 FAX 613-789-8909 TEL 613-236-0772 FAX 613-236-2704 TAIWAN uhc@ugandahighcommission .com vietnamembassy@rogers .com Mr . Chung-chen Kung www .ugandahighcommission .ca www .vietem-ca .com Taipei Economic & Cultural Office 45 O’Connor Street, Suite 1960 UKRAINE YEMEN Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4 His Ex . Andriy Shevchenko His Ex . Jamal Abdullah Yahya TEL 613-231-5080 FAX 613-231-7112 Embassy of Ukraine Al-Sallal publicaffairs@on .aibn co. m 310 Somerset Street, West, Embassy of the Republic of Yemen http://web .roc-taiwan .org/ca_en/ Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 0J9 54 Chamberlain Avenue index .html Tel 613-230-2961 FAX 613-230-2400 Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1V9 emb_ca@ukremb .ca TEL 613-729-6627 FAX 613-729-8915 www .ukremb .ca yeminfo@yemenembassy .ca www .yemenembassy .ca

(613) 319-0846

diplomat and international canada | EMBASSIES | HIGH COMMISSIONS ‑ | OTHER INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 101 DELIGHTS|destinations Visit Slovakia: ‘A good idea’

Glacier Lake of Štrbské Pleso is a picturesque mountain lake and a top tourist attraction in Slovakia. ovak R ep u b l i c y o f T ransport and Constr uc tion o f the Sl ovak et behind the former Iron Curtain highest number per capita worldwide), it that divided Europe for 40 years sits has 1,200 mineral springs and a number SSlovakia, a country whose modern of destinations listed as UNESCO World history only began in 1993 . That year Heritage Sites . Slovakia is still a lesser- marked the “Velvet Divorce,” a peaceful known travel destination, where you will dissolution of Czechoslovakia . find high-quality hotels, fine wining and Slovaks inherited a land of extraordi- dining, cultural institutions and sport ven- nary natural beauty, where fertile plains ues, all available with a smaller price tag By Andrej Droba in the south rise to Alpine mountains in than many alternative travel destinations, Ambassador of Slovakia the north . A land with a 180 medieval and without stressful tourist crowds .

castles and romantic castle ruins (the Located in the geographical heart of o f T u rism the M inistr D epartment

102 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN destinations|DELIGHTS

castles . Tour this meticulously restored medieval residence of the noble Pálffy family, with displays of precious decor and furnishings, porcelain, armour and the largest wine cellars in central Europe . For lunch, head to the nearby village of Dubová . In this region, you will fine many excellent wine producers, along with good restaurants, in a striking setting . Take the country road cutting through the picturesque fields to Trnava, one of Slovakia’s oldest towns . Once headquarters of the Church of Hungary, the town features numerous churches, monasteries and cha- pels, thus becoming known as the “Slovak Rome .” After about a 30-minute drive, you will reach the spa town of Piešťany, your final destination for tonight .

Day 2: Piešťany, Bojnice and Banská Štiavnica Over the past 200 years, Piešťany has evolved from a small village with several The UFO-style observation deck in Bratislava offers great views of the old town with its castle as the mineral hot springs into a world-famous central attraction. spa destination, offering treatments for rheumatic and arthritic conditions . Com- poser Ludwig van Beethoven, Art Nou- Europe, Slovakia spans an area of 49,035 ing effects of many springs, now an attrac- veau painter Alfons Mucha and numerous square kilometres . It shares borders with tion at 25 spas scattered across the country . members of European aristocracy contrib- Austria and the Czech Republic to the Modern-day sport enthusiasts flock to uted to the town’s glory . About 20 minutes west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the the Tatra Mountains to enjoy great skiing . after you leave, you’ll come across Kúria east and Hungary to the south . Slovakia Many of us return there or to other high- Beckov, a tastefully renovated manor is a member of the European Union and lands from April onwards to enjoy cycle house set directly below a striking ruin NATO and, since 2007, has also been part paths or hiking trails . of the 13th-Century Beckov Castle . Con- of the Schengen Area . In 2009, the country sider a short lunch break here . Continue adopted the euro as its currency . Slovakia in five days to Bojnice, another spa town famous also The main mountain ranges are the Tatra Getting to Slovakia is easy . There are daily for its castle, which ranks among the most and Fatra mountains, with 29 peaks higher flights operating between Toronto and romantic castles in Europe . Take a guided than 2,500 metres . The principal river is Vienna, Austria . Once in Vienna, trains tour of the castle interior and then head to the Danube . The capital city of Bratislava and buses leave for Bratislava every hour Banská Štiavnica . stands at an historical trade crossroads throughout the day . Because Slovakia uses on both banks of the Danube, being the the euro as its currency, it minimizes the Day 3: Banská Štiavnica, Vlkolínec and world’s only national capital that borders hassle of adding one more country to your Demänovská Dolina two states — Austria and Hungary . The itinerary once in Austria, since the money Spend the morning exploring Banská proximity of Bratislava to Vienna is also is the same and there is no border-crossing Štiavnica, a UNESCO World Heritage noteworthy, at just 65 kilometres . check . The prices are more attractive than town, which was one of Europe’s main Slovak rural architecture is largely in- anywhere in Western Europe and huge gold- and silver-mining centres be- spired by its folk heritage, a fact most ap- tourist crowds are a rarity . Besides being tween the 13th and 18th Centuries . After parent in the mountain regions of Orava, accessible, all the four- and five-star ho- lunch, drive north to Vlkolínec, another Liptov and Spiš, where entire villages tels, restaurants with fine foods and wines, UNESCO World Heritage Site . Scenically either still exist in their original beauty or spa treatments and museums and galleries located amid the dense forests of the Fatra

R ep u b l i c y o f T ransport and Constr uc tion o f the Sl ovak were carefully re-created to form splendid are affordable . Mountains, this small village has been left open-air museums . The most precious Although the following tour is only five intact for centuries and its wooden houses buildings, however, are the wooden days, we hope you stay much longer . are a living museum . Make Demänovská churches with their nail-less construction Dolina your next stop . On the way, you and intricate ornamentation — unique in Day 1: Bratislava, Červený Kameň, might want to stop briefly in Kremnica, Europe . There are also nearly 700 castles, Trnava and Piešťany another medieval mining town . It is castle ruins, chateaus and manor houses Leave Bratislava and head north along famous for continuous coin production in Slovakia . The historical city centres of the scenic small Carpathian wine route since the 14th Century . Bratislava, Košice, Banská Bystrica, Trnava through small towns nestled between cen- or Bardejov date back to the 13th Century turies-old vineyards . In about 45 minutes, Day 4: Demänovská Dolina and the or earlier . you will arrive at Červený Kameň (Red High Tatra Mountains

epartment o f T u rism the M inistr D epartment Our ancestors also discovered the heal- Stone), one of the best preserved Slovak Start your day in Demänovská Dolina by

diplomat and international canada 103 DELIGHTS|destinations

visiting one of Slovakia’s most famous ice caves, Demänovská ľadová jaskyňa, the entrance to which is about five minutes from the popular hotels . Finish your morning in the Low Tatra Mountains by taking a brand new cable car to the summit of Chopok (2,023 metres) . The Rotunda Restaurant offers magnificent 360-degree views and modern cuisine inspired by traditional Slovak recipes . If you have good weather, you will be able to glimpse the High Tatra Mountains . After about a 50-minute drive, you will reach Glacier Lake of Štrbské Pleso (1,346 metres) . You have ample choices for ac- commodations where you can relax or, if you’re still feeling energized, rent a row- boat on the lake before sunset .

Day 5: High Tatra Mountains, Spišský Hrad and Košice The High Tatra Mountains, the highest mountain range in Slovakia, can be easily explored for a week, yet you can make the best of your visit by taking a cable car from Tatranská Lomnica to Lomnický Štít (2,634 metres) and gradually descending on a fairly easy and well-marked walking trail . Your two-hour hike will reward Vlkolínec has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. The village is a unique you with beautiful vistas . You can stop example of countryside architecture and the region’s most complete group of traditional log houses, for lunch at the traditional Zamkovského which are often found in the mountainous areas. cottage, known as chata, and end your hike in Starý Smokovec, from which a modern tramway will bring you back to your hotel . After checkout, head eastwards to the largest castle in Central Europe, UNESCO- listed Spišský hrad. This 11th-Century marvel can be visited on your own, at your own pace . During summer, several Renaissance tournaments and fairs take place here for families with children . Košice, a mere one- hour drive from Spišský hrad, is Slova- kia’s second largest city . Largely walkable and dominated by the Gothic masterpiece of St . Elizabeth’s Cathedral, this city is a jewel, tracing its roots to the 12th Century . Wine lovers should consider a side trip to the Tokaj wine region, where world- famous wine is produced .

Bratislava R ep u b l i c y o f T ransport and Constr uc tion o f the Sl ovak Bratislava’s charming Old Town is quite compact in size and very walking-friendly, which makes exploring it on foot easy and enjoyable . Try to avoid visiting on Mon- days when public museums and galleries are closed . Instead, schedule your visit to include Saturday, when many extra activities are offered by cultural institutions or the municipality itself . The area of Mount Chopok (2,023 metres) in the Low Tatras is one of the best skiing and winter Start your day at the Bratislava Castle, sports destinations in Slovakia and is gaining recognition all across Europe. a true symbol of the city dating back to the o f T u rism the M inistr D epartment

104 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN destinations|delights

13th Century . Quite massive in structure, the castle was never conquered throughout its long and complicated history . Descend the castle stairs to St . Martin’s Cathedral, the coronation church of the Habsburg monarchs, who reigned from 1563 to 1830 and enjoyed the rarity of a female ruler . Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa reigned from 1740 to 1765 and as co-regent with son Emperor Joseph II until her death in 1780 . Marie Antoinette was among her 16 children . Visit the renovated Gothic interior and admire the colourful stained-glass windows, or the pipe organ, once played by Franz Liszt himself . Continue via Panská, Ventúrska and Michalská streets, which are lined with former palaces of Austrian and Hungarian nobles . When you reach St . Michael’s Gate, the only remaining medieval gateway to the city, climb up its tower for another lovely view of the Old Town . After that, take Michalská Street towards the colourful Main Square . Small coffee shops offer many opportunities for a break . The city’s most traditional coffee house, Kaffee Mayer, which dates back to 1873, serves fresh house-made cakes, the kind once delivered from here daily Bratislava Castle, built in the 9th Century, sits above the Danube River and offers magnificent views to the Habsburg royal court in Vienna . A of Bratislava. Visitors can stroll in the gardens or visit the Slovak National Museum (www.snm.sk). prominent part of the square is occupied by the Old Town Hall . Enjoy your after- noon by promenading along the Danube River, even crossing to the right bank to admire the town from the opposite side . A great idea is to take a 60-minute boat ride to Devín, Bratislava’s second medieval castle . Devín is one of the most important historical and archeological lo- cations in Central Europe . It exudes rug- ged beauty and offers great views of the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers . Come and discover beautiful Slovakia, a unique country in the heart of Europe . Whether you are a nature lover who enjoys the splendid beauty of untouched mountains or an urbanite who seeks vibrant cities, rich in history and culture; whether you fancy winter sports or prefer

R ep u b l i c y o f T ransport and Constr uc tion o f the Sl ovak summer activities, whether you seek out world-class spas or enjoy great wines and delicious cuisine, a holiday in Slovakia is simply always a good idea . Should you consider Slovakia as your next travel destination, my team is pleased to assist and answer any questions you might have . Visit www .slovakia .travel for detailed information .

Andrej Droba is Slovakia’s ambassador Bratislava’s charming Old Town is compact in size and walker-friendly, which makes exploring it on foot easy and enjoyable. epartment o f T u rism the M inistr D epartment to Canada .

diplomat and international canada 105 DELIGHTS|National days Celebration time A listing of the national and independence days marked by countries

April

4 Senegal Independence Day

16 Denmark Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II

17 Syria National Day

18 Zimbabwe Independence Day

19 Holy See Election of the Pope

26 Tanzania Union Day

27 Sierra Leone Republic Day

27 South Africa Freedom Day

27 Togo National Day

27 Netherlands King's Day

May

1 Marshall Islands National Day

2 Israel National Day

3 Poland National Day

Lois Siegel 9 European Union Schuman Day PhotograPhy 17 Norway Constitution Day 20 Cameroon National Day

22 Yemen National Day

Special Event Photographer 24 Eritrea Independence Day Personalized Portraits 25 Argentina May Revolution 25 Jordan National Day Parties and Fundraisers 26 Georgia Independence Day

Ceremonies 28 Azerbaijan Republic Day

28 Ethiopia Downfall of the Dergue Lois has worked as a photographer June for the Ottawa Citizen 1 Samoa Independence Day (Around Town and Diplomatica), 2 Italy Anniversary of the Foundation of the Republic

Ottawa Business Journal, 4 Tonga Independence Day the Glebe Report, Centretown Buzz 6 Sweden National Day and Cinema Canada. 10 Portugal National Day (613) 830-2509 12 Philippines National Day [email protected] 12 Russia National Day siegelproductions.ca 14 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

Photo by Bill Blackstone 30 Congo, Democratic Republic Independence Day

106 SPRING 2017 | APR-MAY-JUN Serving you in English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Chaozhou, Hakka, Cambodian, and Vietnamese!

diplomat and international canada 107 Mike Beedell www.mikebeedellphoto.ca of 740,000animals.Males grow to six metres and weigh up to 4,000 kilograms, while females average 770 kilograms.” some way of feeding them. These creatures were huntedtothe brink of extinction in the early 1900s, but there is now a healthypopulation down the beach to visit me and suck on myhandsandclothing.Theywouldeven crawl up on my legs and stare intomyeyes, hoping I had — becausenoone would be catching their food for them. When I sat on the beach amongst scores ofthem,they would come galumphing were for their mother’s yearning milk, which they had happilysuckledfor the past30 days. But now itwastimetogrow up —and fast about 113 kilograms, were molting. They were crying and bleating with heart-wrenching wails followed by frolicsome play in the surf. They recently been abandoned by theirmothers,which is thenaturalcourse of anelephantseal’s life.The pudgy pinnipeds, each weighing elephant sealpupson South GeorgiaIslandinthe sub-Antarctic. Photographer Mike Beedell:“I met these adorable southern Theyhad DELIGHTS| PHOTO FINISH