Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird, interviewed on Channel 10 on April 8, 2013.[/caption]Still, John Baird stresses opposition to unilateral Israeli military action against the Iranians, who he calls the biggest threat to world security
If Israel decides to strike unilaterally at Iran, the Iranians will only have themselves to blame, Canadas foreign minister said Monday during a visit to Israel, while stressing that his country did not support unilateral Israeli military action to thwart Tehrans rogue nuclear program.
Baird, who has been holding talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and also attended events marking Israels Holocaust Remembrance Day, was interviewed on Israels Channel 10 News.He was asked first about Canadas strong support for Israel, which saw it voting with only seven other countries against the Palestinians successful bid for an upgrade to non-member state status at the UN General Assembly last November. The great struggle of our generation is the struggle against terrorism, Baird explained, and far too often, the Jewish people, Israel, has been on the front lines of that struggle. We want to work with Israel to see a lasting peace in this region.
He said he had urged Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to return to peace talks with Israel without preconditions, but to no avail. He said both sides should avoid unilateral actions that complicated peace efforts.
Turning to the Iranian nuclear program, Baird said, Iran is clearly doing all it can to waste time in negotiations. Iran is not going to get rewarded for just showing up at the negotiating table, he vowed. Iran represents the biggest threat to international peace and security in the world today, and the world should respond with that in mind.
Asked whether Canada would support an Israeli decision to act militarily, Baird said, We are tremendously concerned about any unilateral action on Israels part. At the same time,if it does happen, therell be only one single actor to blame, and that will be the state of Iran.
The foreign minister elaborated: We understand that every country has the right to stand up and protect itself. But, he stressed, We dont support any unilateral military action.
By The Times of Israel
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