The foreign ministers of Canada and the United Kingdom on Monday defended the decision by Ottawa and London to operate joint embassies and consulates at selected locations around the world. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird described the diplomatic agreement as an administrative matter.
He said, "We are not moving to merge all of our embassies and consulates around the world. We are not going to be sharing ambassadors or trade commissioners. This is not unique to Britain, what we are doing. We cooperate with others, like Australia, to make the most of our respective resources in some parts of the world. "
Baird added that each country will continue to have complete independence on policy and Canadian public servants will always protect and promote Canada’s interests and Canada’s values. The plan will involve "co-locating" embassies and sharing consular services in countries where either Canada or the United Kingdom does not have an existing embassy. Baird said the U.K. would post diplomats at Canada’s embassy in Haiti, while Canada would establish a post at the U.K. embassy in Myanmar."
Canada's Foreign Minister John Baird (L) speaks during a news conference
with Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague on Parliament Hill in
Ottawa September 24, 2012. REUTERS/Chris Wattie
中国公众网摘编:GAN JADE |