FAAE Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 9:11 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D Centre Block, the Chair, Bernard Patry, presiding.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That, not withstanding the Order of Thursday, October 14, 2004, the Committee defer, on Tuesday, May 10, 2005, consideration of any motion requiring 24 hours’ notice to the next meeting of the Committee.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Committee invite the ministers responsible for International Trade Canada and for the Canadian International Development Agency to appear, as soon as possible, to be heard on the subject of the International Policy Statement.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Committee meet informally with the delegation from the Parliament of Kuwait immediately following the meeting on Thursday May 12, 2005.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, 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 jeopardize 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;

Recognizes the efforts of Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, UN Secretary General Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa;

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;

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 on the town of Badme;

Proposes that the Government of Canada suggest to the Government of Ethiopia that Canada’s future cooperation would be given impetus with Ethiopian agreement to the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission;

Suggests that the Government of Canada indicate to the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea, that living up to their obligations under the comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Algiers, especially with regards to the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission provisions, would create a more conducive environment for the development of the relationship between Canada, Eritrea and Ethiopia;

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;

Concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in both countries and that maintaining the current state of no peace and no war will result in as many as half a million additional Eritreans and fourteen million additional Ethiopians, living in poverty by the year 2010;

Supports an extension of the UNMEE mandate to September 15, 2005;

Calls on the government of Canada to encourage Eritrea to meet with Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, UN Secretary General Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa;

Calls on the government of Canada to urge Eritrea and Ethiopia to consider seriously returning their troops to the levels of deployment which existed previous to mid-December, 2004;

Calls on the government of Canada to engage other countries in searching for a peaceful way to end the boundary dispute, including the witnesses of the Algiers Agreement.

The debate continued.

Francine Lalonde moved, — That the motion be amended by substituting for its ninth clause the following:

Recognizes the efforts of M. Lloyd Axworthy, UN Secretary General Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and supports the conclusions shared with the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade and demands that the government of Canada adopt them to the effect:

— That the partners of the Peace Agreement signed in Algiers can act as a contact group between Eritrea and Ethiopia,

— That Ethiopia has to be convinced to collaborate with the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission clearly signifying its compliance with the borders but also that at the same time, on their part,

— That Eritrea has to be convinced of the necessity to engage in a serious dialogue on a number of important issues that matter to each country, and

— That Canada should not give Ethiopia direct aid without assurance that the resolution of the conflict is part of the agreement.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned until later in the meeting.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Stockwell Day, — That, in the opinion of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the government should demand that the State of Israel be afforded the same right of any other member nation to participate in the deliberations of all United Nations bodies, and that the Chair report the same to the House.

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

The Committee proceeded to consider the motion of Dan McTeague.

Dan McTeague moved, — That the Committee request officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to appear before the Committee at the earliest opportunity to provide detailed information pertaining to questions relating to Taiwan that arose out of the Committee’s meeting of May 3, 2005, and, most notably, to provide information on the issuance of transit visas to Taiwanese officials and the state of Canada’s relationship with Taiwan.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing in the French text the words “aux questions soulevées” with the words “sur les questions soulevées”.

The question was put on the motion of Dan McTeague, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion, as amended, of Alexa McDonough, and of the amendment of Francine Lalonde.

The debate continued.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the question be put on the sub-clauses of the amendment seriatim, and that the vote on the second sub-clause apply to the third sub-clause.

After debate, the question was put on the first sub-clause and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 2.

After debate, the question was put on the second and third sub-clauses and they were agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 3.

After debate, the question was put on the fourth sub-clause and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 6.

The question was put on the amendment of Francine Lalonde, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the motion of Alexa McDonough, as amended, and it was agreed to.

At 9:51 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.