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Posted by Naresh Raghubeer on 14:08:25 2004/08/26
Prime Minister Must Take Responsibility For Questionable Appointment
Former Liberal M.P., Yvon Charbonneau, Canada s Appointment as Ambassador to UNESCO Has Caused Problems In the Past
For Immediate Release August 25, 2004
Penticton, B.C. Why has Paul Martin appointed somebody who has never renounced controversial remarks related to Israel and the Jews? questioned Stockwell Day, Foreign Affairs Critic for the Official Opposition.
Day said that a review of past comments and incidents perpetrated by Mr. Charbonneau raises serious questions about his views on Israel and the Jewish people.
Day cited the following:
1) In 1983, as head of the Quebec Teacher s Union, Charbonneau tried to have signs placed in public schools attacking a genocidal war of the Israeli government against Palestinians.
2) Last January at a public meeting in the federal constituency of Mercier, Charbonneau took a one-sided position in exclaiming to 500 people that the Canadian government should be engaged in a more active fashion on the issue of Palestinian restoration
Now being appointed as Canada s Ambassador to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization without explaining or refuting his previous positions sends a wrong message to the International Community, Day said. Or perhaps this is, in fact, a revelation of the federal government s biased views on the Middle East.
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