Canada Mantains Principled Approach on Burma: Foreign Minister
24 July 2011: Despite recently exchanging ambassadors with Burma, Canada on Saturday said its ‘limited engagement’ with Naypyidaw is exclusively driven by human rights.
The statement came at the conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 44th Post Ministerial Conference and 18th ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
“Canada continues to take a pricipled approach to foreign policy issues,” said Foreign Affairs Minister John Biard. He said that during the regional security forum meeting, he raised the ‘international’ issues of concern, including the situation in Burma.
By attending the ASEAN security forum, Canada said it seeks to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights throughout southeast Asia.
Earlier this month, Canada appointed a new ambassador to Burma. Despite the new ‘strategic engagement,’ Canada still maintains strong economic sanctions imposed since 2007 against Naypyidaw.
