Baird On Obama-Rouhani Call: 'Actions Will Speak Louder Than Words'

It will take more than a long-distance phone call, even a historic one, to thaw diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird indicated in an interview with CBC Radio's The House.
U.S. President Barack Obama's spoke by phone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday, marking the first time leaders from the U.S. and Iran have spoken in over 30 years.
When asked about the phone call, Baird told host Evan Solomon he welcomed the change in tone but that Canada remained "skeptical."
Baird conceded that "good talk is better than bad talk" but quickly pointed out that, "we haven't seen any movement yet" despite Obama's show of optimism following Friday's rare phone call.
Obama said, following his meeting with Rouhani, that he believed the U.S. and Iran can reach a comprehensive solution over the latter's nuclear program.
"We think actions will speak louder than words," Baird said.

The minister outlined three areas where Canada would like to see "real movement" on the part of Iran, namely:
Link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/news/obama-rouhani-phone-call/

John Baird UN speech: Canada urges tough stance on Iran

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, said in his speech to the UN that encouraging words from Iran aren't substitutes for ending its nuclear ambitions or improving its human rights record.

OTTAWA—Canada is calling on other nations to maintain tough sanctions against Iran despite that country’s “charm offensive,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird says.

Speaking at the United Nations on Monday morning, Baird drove home Canada’s skepticism around Iran’s new outreach to the west.

“Sound bites do not remove threats to global security. Kind words, a smile and a charm offensive are not a substitute for real action,” Baird told the general assembly.

U.S. President Barack Obama has praised Iran’s new “moderate” approach under President Hassan Rouhani. Last week, Obama and Rouhani spoke by the phone, the first time leaders of the two countries have spoken in more than three decades.

Canada severed its own diplomatic ties with Iran a year ago, shutting its embassy in Tehran because of security concerns and kicking out Iranian diplomats. In his speech Monday, Baird signalled that Canada is keen to see reforms in Iran but won’t soften its stance until tangible progress is evident.

“We will welcome and acknowledge reform, if and when it comes,” Baird said, according to a text of his prepared remarks.

“By this we will know when genuine reform has occurred: Has there been real, measurable, material improvement in the lives of the Iranian people and in the security of the world,” the foreign affairs minister said.

“Nothing would make Canada more pleased than to see a change in Iran’s nuclear ambitions. A change to its terrible human rights record. And an end to Iran’s material support for terrorism,” Baird said.

Baird talked tough on the other security crisis in the region — the unfolding civil war in Syria and allegations of chemical weapons use by President Bashar Assad's regime.

Baird said that while Canada does not support Assad, it will not back extremists battling to take his place.

“We will never support a brutal and illegitimate regime that has unleashed weapons of mass destruction on its own people. Nor will we tolerate extremism and terrorism as alternatives to Assad’s tyranny,” Baird said.

Instead, he said that Canada backs a “peaceful, democratic and pluralistic Syria.”

“But let us not confuse a peaceful, negotiated outcome with equivocation or moral uncertainty. There can be no moral ambiguity about the use of chemical weapons on civilians,” he said.

Baird also spoke of Canada’s own development initiatives, including a call to end forced marriages, which he called “violence against women.”

“Early forced marriage is child rape, violence against young girls. The practice is abhorrent and indefensible,” Baird said.

And he highlighted Canada’s ongoing efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality, which Harper put in the spotlight during his own visit to the United Nations last week.

Baird opened his address by paying tribute to the “victims of terrorism” like those killed in the terror attack in Kenya that killed two Canadians, including a diplomat.

“There is no more fitting venue to honour the life of Annemarie Desloges and her service than right here, in front of these United Nations,” Baird said. “The crime of terror is an assault on all people.”
Link:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/09/30/john_
baird_warns_of_iranian_charm_offensive_in_speech_to_un.html