Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly will speak to Lebanese government representatives at the high-profile Francophone summit, as the Middle East conflict threatens to overshadow the official agenda of the annual gathering of Francophone leaders. It is. state.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Jolie are on their way to France this morning for a summit meeting on Friday and Saturday.
Lebanon is a member of the International Organization of Francophonie, which consists of 88 countries. On Friday, an Israeli airstrike killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah, in an attack on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut.
More than 1,000 people, including two Lebanese-Canadians, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the area, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
On Tuesday, Israel launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon, raising fears of a major war in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Trudeau took part in an early morning telephone conversation with other G7 leaders on Wednesday. Afterward, he told reporters that all the leaders on the call condemned Iran’s missile attack on Israel earlier this week, which he said was an “insurrection” by a terrorist regime that posed a “risk of broader war.” “Stabilizing actions.”
“We must continue to do everything we can to seek peace and stability, calling for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and calling for a two-state solution where a peaceful settlement takes place. “It means getting back on track with a safe and stable Israeli state coexisting with a peaceful, secure and stable Palestinian state,” Trudeau said.
“Israel has the right to defend itself in the face of this unprecedented attack,” Joly said. “We need to prevent all-out war from happening.”
Quebec immigration demands could come up at summit
The ongoing domestic dispute between the Quebec and federal governments over immigration could also be part of the conversation at the summit.
Radio-Canada reported earlier this week that Quebec Premier Francois Legault is asking Ottawa to set up temporary shelters for asylum seekers, including holding zones at ports of entry.
In a July 22 letter, Mr. Legault cited France as an example, which places some migrants in a safe zone if they are denied entry and deprives them of food for 26 days until their case is resolved. He pointed out that they are providing and protecting.
Legault said he planned to question French authorities about the methods during a trip this week. Quebec is also an official member of the Francophonie.
But federal Immigration Minister Mark Miller poured cold water on Quebec’s idea, saying Canada’s immigration system is very different from France’s.
“If you look at what’s going on in France, there is a process that sometimes detains some people for up to a month,” Miller said. “That would create legal issues in Canada.”
The minister also said any evacuation measures must be humanitarian in nature. “There’s a lot of politics driving this,” Miller said. “This is…I think it’s rhetoric.” [Legault] It can be weaponized for one’s own political process. ”
Prime Minister Trudeau has had one-on-one meetings with Legault at Francophone summits attended by both leaders, including the 2022 summit in Tunisia.
The summit’s official agenda includes a discussion of applications to join the organization. Nova Scotia has applied for observer status.
Trudeau’s other priorities at the summit include promoting gender equality, climate action and international economic cooperation, according to a release from his office.
