CanWest:Harper sets off firestorm by vetoing motion at Francophonie summit

[tuvor]

PM wanted statement on Israel-Hezbollah war to make mention of all civilians affected

BUCHAREST -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper sparked a diplomatic flap yesterday on one of his first outings among world leaders after he stood in the way of attempts at the Francophonie summit to craft a pointed political statement on this summer's war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Harper found himself fighting against what French President Jacques Chirac called "a great majority" of the 53 member states at the conference when he took a stand against a statement of sympathy for the civilians in Lebanon because it made no mention of the Israeli civilians displaced, injured or killed in the month-long war.

Canada's rookie prime minister vetoed a last-minute Egyptian-sponsored amendment to a statement which said that the Francophonie "deplored" the effects of the war, which killed 1,500 people. The amendment did not recognize Israeli suffering.

"The amendment wants to recognize and deplore the war and recognize the victims of Lebanon. We are able to deplore the war, we are able to recognize the victims, but on both sides," Harper said at a news conference near the end of the two-day summit.

"The Francophonie cannot recognize victims according to their nationality. Recognize the victims of Lebanon and the victims of Israel."

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[Spazito]

1. My, my, it's too bad harper didn't insist that both sides be fairly

treated when he came out solely on the side of Israel and, by default, the US during the "war". If he had I would have a bit of a harder time calling out his HYPOCRISY on this statement:

"The Francophonie cannot recognize victims according to their nationality. Recognize the victims of Lebanon and the victims of Israel."

[Bragi]

2. Little Bush Buddy on the Job! /NT

[MrPrax]

3. Atta Boy...

They will just LOVE you in 'le belle province'; bold move by a white bread anglo with deep roots in the canadian francophone reality.

It might be unpopular among the international Francophonie, but a gutsy stand like this will only endear to the Quebec people who will surely rally around you and your party in the next election.

Keep up the good work, Stevie.