Posted on 09/23/2009 2:53:21 AM PDT by Clive
UNITED NATIONS -- Canada will boycott Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech at the United Nations on Wednesday, saying his outbursts about the Holocaust and Israel are "shameful."
Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon will be at the world body to attend the opening of the UN General Assembly's annual debate, but officials signal he and other members of the Canadian delegation will vacate the Canadian seats when the Islamic republic's President approaches the podium.
Walking out of the chamber is seen as a strong diplomatic show of disgust at the UN -- and since the chamber is generally packed on the first day of the annual summit, Canada's empty seats will not go unnoticed.
One of the first speakers of the day will be U.S. President Barack Obama, who is making his debut address before the assembly.
"President Ahmadinejad's repeated denial of the Holocaust and his anti-Israel comments run counter to the values of the UN General Assembly, and they're shameful," said one Canadian official.
"He uses his public appearances to provoke the international community, and that is why Canada's seats will be empty."
The gesture is a step stronger than one announced on Tuesday by the German foreign ministry, which asked other European Union member states to walk out of the General Assembly chamber if Mr. Ahmadinejad again denies the Holocaust, or makes anti-Semitic statements.
The Canadian initiative will be welcomed by Israel, which on Tueday urged all delegates in the 192-member chamber to stay away when Mr. Ahmadinejad speaks.
"A few days ago he gave a new speech of hate," Gabriela Shalev, Israeli ambassador to the UN, told Israeli army radio. "The simple fact of leaving the room during his speech, or not to be present during it, is a symbolic act."
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(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpost.com ...
You bet GOOD FOR YOU CANADA!!!! I am ashamed of my country!!!
ASHAMED!
Not really. Islamic supremacists have too much of a say within the UN and too little smack down on their bigoted and discriminatory rhetoric.
Not likely. The opponents of John Bolton won in 2008.
Good for us - I hope many join the walk-out.
Good Job Canada!
Maybe to encourage someone else to do the same.
Not likely. The opponents of John Bolton won in 2008.
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The ‘someone else’ doesn’t have to be the US..
Too bad Obama will be licking the guys feet.
Nice work w/signal flags! LOL!
Beauty, eh? Maybe the US should follow Canada’s lead on this.
Bwahahahaha! Pwned. It’s pretty bad when your ‘eyes in the sky’ crashes into another aircraft.
Those guys are mighty scary.
“Sadly, I suspect the US delegation will keep their backsides glued to their seats.”
Are you kidding? If O is there he will stand and applaud the Iraninan jerk!
Too bad Obama will be licking the guys feet.
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Right. He won’t have time to look around to see who’s leaving or even know why..
Now if we can only get the American delegation to walk out when the Obamanation approaches the podium!”
I said that the other day when Wilson shouted “you lie”...I’d have much rather seen most, if not all, Republicans get up and walk out...or just not show at all. Obama MUST be held accountable for his constant lies and should not be continuously given a free forum in which to spread them.
No doubt Obama and the 12th imam will be pow-wowing around recalling old times ...
Should have walked out on Obozo too!!
Allah has spoken! Since Mohammed did not have planes, neither may you! I strike them down in flames!
Yo, Ca-na-da!
Obama will be kissing and hugging the Iranians and telling us that Canada was rude to our friend, neighbor, and citizens of the world.
Woops! That might have come in handy!
I wonder how much they could afford to keep that one AWACS in the air, though. It seems unlikely it would have been airborne during an Israeli strike unless they had advance warning.
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