FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 10:08 a.m. this day, in Room 308 West Block, the Chair, Bernard Patry, presiding.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That members of the Committee hold a working lunch for Volker Rühe, the Chair of the Foreign Affairs committee of the German Bundestag on Thursday, May 19, 2005.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That members of the Committee attend a working lunch for the Speaker of the Senate of Jordan and his delegation on Tuesday, April 19, 2005.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That members of the Committee attend a working lunch for the Speaker of the Senate of Malaysia and his delegation on Wednesday, April 13, 2005.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That members of the Committee hold a working lunch for the Minister of the Defence of Albania and his delegation on Thursday, April 14, 2005, and that up to five members of the Canada-NATO Parliamentary Association and the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association be invited to attend.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the request to appear from Dr. Julian Lob-Levyt of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations be referred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the request to appear from representatives of KAIROS be referred to the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the request to appear of Kenneth Roth of the Human Rights Watch be referred to the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Development.

On motion of Kevin Sorenson, it was agreed, — That the Clerk and Researchers plan a trip and budget for travel to New York City and Washington to support the committee's studies of the government’s international policy statements and bilateral relations.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Clerk and Researchers prepare a plan and budget for the approval of the committee for e-consultation in support of the committee's studies of the government's international policies.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That pursuant to Standing Orders 81(4) and 81(7), the Committee hear the ministers responsible for Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and the Canadian International Development Agency on the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the budget in the amount of $39,758 to support hearings in Ottawa in relation to the Committee’s review of international policy be adopted.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Alexa McDonough, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs and International Trade agrees to report the following:

Concerned about the ongoing tensions along the Eritrea-Ethiopia Border which jeopardizes the tenuous peace reached with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on December 12, 2000 in Algiers;

Welcomes the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary Commission, created by Article 4.2 of the Algiers Agreement, to demarcate the disputed border between the two countries;

Mindful that following Article 4.5 of the Algiers Agreement, the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission are binding on both parties of the conflict and are final;

Agrees with the April 13, 2002 decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission to grant the disputed town of Badme to Eritrea;

Aware of the controversial nature of the Badme decision and the catalyst role of this settlement in the initiation of hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea;

Alarmed over Ethiopian failure to fully comply with, and accept, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission’s recommendations, especially with regards to the town of Badme;

Concerned that the destruction during the war, the current stalemate in the peace process, and the cumulative effects of drought have dealt a serious blow to the Eritrean economy, reducing that country’s capacity to cover food requirements through imports;

Appreciative of the leadership role that Canada has played in the United Nations mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), including the deployment of peacekeepers to the region at the cessation of hostilities;

Recognizes the efforts of Lloyd Axworthy, UN Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa;

Calls on the government of Canada to increase the pressure on the Government of Ethiopia to accept, in full, the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, including the decision of the town of Badme;

Proposes that the Government of Canada forcefully indicate to the Government of Ethiopia that our future cooperation would heavily depend on Ethiopia’s acquiescence to the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission;

Suggests that the government of Canada offer incentives, in terms of developmental aid and other assistance to the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea, if they live up to their obligations under the comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Algiers, especially with regards to the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission provisions;

Suggests that the government of Canada offer assistance under UN auspices, to the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia to help in the demobilization of their respective armies.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned until the next meeting of the Committee.

Alexa McDonough moved, — That with regard to the Committee's study of Bill C-25, An Act governing the operation of remote sensing space systems, and further to the motion of February 22, 2005, relating to Annex II of the June 2000 Canada-United States Agreement on the Operation of Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite Systems, the Committee invite the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada to appear to address Committee concerns relating to annexes to the Agreement.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 3; NAYS: 5.

At 10:59 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.