Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said it was unacceptable for a Canadian official to attend a reception hosted by the Russian embassy, and promised that there would be no more such incidents.
The statement was followed by a Globe and Mail report that Yasemin Heinbecker, deputy head of protocol in the global affairs department, was attending a Russian Day celebration at Russia’s embassy in Ottawa on Friday night. The holiday marks Russia’s constitutional reform at the end of the Soviet era.
Heinbecker’s presence comes as Canada and its allies oppose Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special military operation.”
“This is unacceptable. No Canadian representative was supposed to attend the event, which was organized at the Russian embassy [and] no Canadian representative will attend this type of event again, “Jolie tweeted Sunday night.
She reiterated that Canada continues to support Ukraine.
WATCH “No Canadian representative will be attending this event again,” Jolie said.
Unacceptable “that a Canadian employee attends an event at the Russian embassy: Jolie
Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie said it was unacceptable for a Canadian official to attend a reception hosted by the Russian embassy, and promised that this would not happen again.
A spokesman for Global Affairs Canada said the decision to send a protocol officer to the front desk was made by the department.
“No Canadian representative should have attended the event organized at the Russian Embassy, and no Canadian representative will attend this type of event in the future,” the GAC said in a statement.
“Russian officials will not be invited to Canada Day events organized by the agency.”
Diplomats from other countries were present
Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov said he appreciated Heinbecker’s participation in the event.
“We believe that diplomacy is a tool for all weather conditions, and diplomatic protocol is an important part of maintaining bilateral communications. Diplomacy is about dialogue,” he said in a statement.
“We are not looking at Canada through hostile optics and we are ready to wait patiently for [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau’s cabinet or the next government understands that it is in Canada’s national interest to pursue good neighborly relations with Russia. “
The embassy said Jolie had also been invited to the reception and said diplomats from other countries were present.
Since the beginning of the attack in Ukraine in February, the Canadian government has imposed sanctions on individuals with ties to Russia and sent military supplies, including ammunition, to help Ukrainian troops.
Last week, the RCMP revealed that assets and transactions worth more than $ 400 million Cdn were sanctioned as a result of Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen said the liberal government should do more to isolate Vladimir Putin’s regime, including expelling Russian diplomats.
“Instead of endorsing the lavish Kremlin-backed celebration at the Russian embassy, the liberal government must work with countries such as Egypt, Pakistan and Africa to prevent Putin’s illegal war from causing a global food crisis that will do the most harm. Developing countries. She said in a statement.
Add Comment