Presentation of Credentials (Zambia, Thailand,
Denmark, Germany)

The Citadelle, Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I am delighted to welcome you, Excellencies, along with your families and delegations, to the Citadelle of Québec, the second official residence of the governor general.

High atop Cape Diamant, where the majestic St. Lawrence River narrows—which is the original Indian meaning of the word Quebec—the Citadelle is the only military fortification in North America that remains intact.

It is a jewel of the Historic District of Old Québec, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Some very significant pages of Canada’s history were written within these ramparts, and I hope that you will make the most of your stay to discover this fortification and the charms of a magnificent city, where Europe and the Americas meet, and above all, to meet with the people of Quebec, whom you will find to be both warm and welcoming.

Last year, we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the founding of the City of Québec. It was an opportunity for us to mark four hundred years of French presence on this continent. It is a heritage of which we are extremely proud, one that we share with other countries of La Francophonie. This city also hosted the XIIe Sommet de la Francophonie last year.

I am particularly pleased to welcome you as friends of Canada. Our five countries share values that make our bilateral as well as multilateral relations a positive force in the concert of nations. Whether we are engaged in helping to establish good governance and the rule of law, in promoting human rights, or in protecting women and children exposed to human trafficking for the purposes of forced labour and sexual exploitation, we can take pride in standing up for what is right.

As you know, I just came back from a visit to Afghanistan, where Canadian troops, alongside those of 41 other countries, including Denmark and Germany, are paving the way for humanitarian workers and forging productive partnerships with a population that has long suffered under tyranny, violence and oppression.

I felt it was important at this critical point in our mission to tell them not to lose sight of the reason for our commitment to the people of Afghanistan, which is to restore hope in peace, justice and prosperity, where for too long there has been only chaos, iniquity and ruin.

In these times of economic uncertainty that call on us to learn lessons, to rethink how we do things and to turn more than ever to a spirit of reciprocity, compassion and community, we must remain optimistic and supportive. I can assure you that I, and all Canadians, count on you to broaden our horizons, humanize our relationships and build new bridges between our peoples.

High Commissioner Mumba, Canada has been a close development partner of Zambia since its independence and will continue to support your country’s efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals and to improve the quality and availability of basic health care.

Zambian leadership and engagement in resolving the ongoing conflicts and crises in neighbouring countries and as an active contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, notably in Darfur, Congo and Liberia, is a remarkable commitment that we deeply appreciate.   

Canada shares your country’s commitment to democracy and looks forward to continued collaboration in regional and international forums. I am confident that these and other opportunities for partnership will strengthen our solidarity.

Excellency, I am told that you love boxing. Let us become good friends. I, myself, enjoy kickboxing.

Ambassador Panupong, Canada is pleased with the growing friendship between our two nations. Our people-to-people linkages have grown substantially over the past few years through the many Canadians who visit and live in Thailand and the increasing number of Thais who choose to come to Canada for tourism, study or work. Canada is also hopeful that our trade and investment links will continue to grow.

As members of the Asia-Pacific community, we have a common interest in working together to enhance peace and stability. Thailand’s masterly chairing of the ASEAN last year provided an opportunity for regional leadership, and Canada was pleased to offer its co-operation and support as we are proud to help contribute to shared goals of regional and international security.

Ambassador Lorenzen, Canada and Denmark are natural allies with a strong commitment to promoting peace and security in the global community. As multilateral partners, we are guided by a common agenda at the United Nations and inspired by the universal values of human rights, democracy and respect for the rule of law.

As founding members of NATO and as northern neighbours with strong trans-Atlantic relations, we share a long history of strategic collaboration on security issues and we encourage multilateral solutions for regional conflict resolutions. Canada respects the important contribution that Denmark is making in Afghanistan, where our countries co-operate on democracy building.

This year, Denmark is providing international leadership, as both chair of the Arctic Council and hosts of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. I am confident that both endeavours, under Denmark’s able leadership, will lead to positive results.

I am pleased to note that your chief of defence, Admiral Tim Sloth Jørgensen,  has recently met in Iqaluit and later in Greenland with General Walter Natynczyk to discuss greater co-operation between our two countries with regard to coastal surveillance, air-sea rescue, and monitoring of ocean traffic in the Arctic.

This is not the only arena where ice is of primary importance. I know that you are an avid winter sports fan and that you are looking forward to the Canadian experience in that regard. Rest assured that our long winters will give you plenty of opportunities to enjoy your favourite sports.

Ambassador Witschel, Canada is proud to count Germany as one of its closest allies in the world. We share a partnership on the international stage through the United Nations, NATO and the G8. Canada and Germany are major partners in trade, investment and science and technology. Our countries are strengthened by youth, cultural and academic exchanges, and by the large numbers of Canadians, about 10 percent, who claim German heritage.

This November, Canadians will join Germans in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which marked the beginning of the end of Germany’s post-war division. Canada was pleased to make a constructive contribution to this historic process of transformation by serving as the host of the 1990 Open Skies Conference, which launched talks on German reunification that year, by bringing together under one roof the foreign ministers of the two Germanies, France, the Soviet Union, the UK and the US. 

Of late, Germany has been working with Canada on several projects in Afghanistan, such as the restoration of a technical and vocational school in Kandahar, the construction of a road in the Panjwayi District, the establishment of the Staff and Language Training Centre for the Afghan National Army in Kabul, and the creation of a border police faculty at the Police Academy in Kabul. 

Excellencies, I wish you every success in your respective missions. For my part, I believe it is especially important to focus on creative diplomacy, which emphasizes the human factor and dialogue. Now more than ever before, we need to listen to one another, keep human dignity at the forefront of everything we do, and ensure that hope will triumph.

I have no doubt that each of you will inject new vigour into the diplomatic, trade, academic, cultural and social relations between our countries. I wish your spouses and children who have accompanied you a stay in our country that is filled with memorable encounters, exciting discoveries and, above all, happiness.