Canada will seek closer relations with Russia despite deep tensions over
Moscow's actions in Ukraine, new Liberal Foreign Minister Stephane Dion
signaled on Thursday, marking a major policy shift.
Last October the Liberals defeated the Conservatives, who had cut most
high-level ties with Moscow and slapped sanctions on Russian firms, officials
and business executives in response to the actions of Russian-backed militants
in Ukraine.
"If we don't engage with Russia we don't help Ukraine (and) we don't
help Canada's interests," Dion told a foreign policy forum. Canada and
Russia both have competing interests in the Arctic, home to potentially vast
reserves of oil and gas.
Dion said the United States, which has also imposed punitive measures on
Russia, was dealing directly with Moscow on a number of international issues.
It would be irresponsible for the two nations not to have such contacts, he
said.
"So something that is irresponsible for the United States would also
be irresponsible for Canada, don't you think? So that is the approach we will
have when building a foreign policy," he said.
Canada, Dion added, would maintain the sanctions on Russia for as long as
necessary and remained a strong ally of Ukraine. He plans to visit Kiev next week.
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