Russia says expulsion of diplomats not directed against Canada: Cannon

[CHIMO]

Source: CBC News

Russia has offered assurances that expulsion of two Canadian diplomats was not directed against Canada, but was an act of retaliation against NATO, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said Wednesday.

Cannon met with the Russian ambassador to Canada earlier in the day for clarification on why Isabelle Francois, director of NATO's information office in Moscow, and a colleague who also works for NATO were expelled.

"The Russian ambassador came in and specifically said that for their part, it’s not a retaliation that is directed against Canada, nor against the Canadian diplomats," Cannon said.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper told reporters in Prague, where he is in free-trade talks with the European Union, that NATO had to send clear signals to Russia in relation to spying, democracy and human rights violations.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/05/06/russia-canadian-diplomats-expel459.html

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Last Updated: Wednesday, May 6, 2009 | 7:09 PM ET

Perhaps the PM should realise that if it wasn't directed at Canada it wouldn't have hit Canada.
He seems to think that things are the same as they were in Oct. last year.

[Robbien]

1. Russia was just acting in response to NATO kicking out two Russians

So Russia kicked out two NATO members, who just happened to be Canadians.

per
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aYz4Q2mX28qI&refer=canada

Russia expelled two NATO officials working in Moscow in a tit-for-tat move, further straining relations after two Russian diplomats were kicked out of Brussels and the alliance began military exercises in Georgia.

NATO is playing with fire for having their war games in Georgia. What are they thinking?

[CHIMO]

2. If You

Want to hit the mark you hit the one that hurt you or you hit the biggest guy. They didn't hit the biggest guy. They didn't hit any Europeans. They hit someone who thinks that he is still in the year 2008.

[Robbien]

3. If all you are doing is just making a statement

without expecting any blowback, you hit the guy who is least likely to hit back.

Canada hasn't ever invaded anyone except when they came down and burned down the White House, and even then it was acting for Britain.

[CHIMO]

4. Nope

But the recent movement between the US and Russia seems to have been set back by this.

One scenario on this is that the people who want to throw a wrench into this took this opportunity. Canada hasn't invaded many countries recently but the leader may be trying to keep the neo-con group in control.

[amandabeech]

6. That the Russians understand force, and only force.

It's really a return of the cold war.

Then there's the saying: the more things change, the more they remain the same.

Also, the Russians have been trying to intimidate the Canadians in the Artic via a post here several weeks ago that I can't find now.

[Vidar]

5. NATO deserves this response for its saber rattling, Canada not so much.

[daleo]

7. They just picked on Canada

Because everyone hates Harper.