FAIT Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met in a televised session at 9:02 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C Centre Block, the Chair, Bernard Patry, presiding.

William Sampson made statement and with James Sampson answered questions.

At 10:06 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:19 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Mark Eyking presented the First Report of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Investment entitled: Reinvigorating Economic Relations Between Canada and Asia-Pacific.

It was agreed, —

- That the first report of the Subcommittee on International Trade, Trade Disputes and Inveatment be adopted as a Report to the House and that the Chair or his/her designate present it to the House.

- That, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee request that the Government table a comprehensive response to this report.

- That the Chair be authorised to make such typographical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

- That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the Committee authorize the printing of brief dissenting and/or supplementary opinions as appendices to this report immediately after the signature of the Chair, that the opinions be sent to the Clerk of the Committee by electronic mail in both official languages on/before 8:00 p.m. Thursday November 6, 2003.

Art Eggleton moved, —

That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade,

Concerned about the ongoing tensions along the Eritrea-Ethiopian Border which jeopardize the tenuous peace reached with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on December 12, 2000 in Algiers;

Welcoming the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, created by Article 4.2 of the Algiers Agreement, to demarcate the disputed border between the two countries;

Mindful that following Article 4.5 of the Algiers Agreement, the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission are binding on both parties of the conflict and are final;

Accepting the April 13, 2002 decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission to grant the disputed town of Badme to Eritrea;

Aware of the controversial nature of the Badme decision and the catalyst role of this settlement in the initiation of hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea;

Alarmed over Ethiopian failure to fully comply with, and accept, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission’s recommendations, especially with regards to the town of Badme;

Troubled by the findings of the United Nations Secretary-General on Ethiopia and Eritrea, in the September 4, 2003 Progress Report, that the number of border incidents in Sector Centre is increasing, including the growth in the numbers of Ethiopian herdsmen and livestock present in the Zone on the daily basis;

Disturbed by the September 5, 2003 report of the United Nations Secretary-General with regards to the pointing of weapons by Ethiopian militia at United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) patrols on August 5 and the violation of the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities in the Drum Drum Stream area of the Zone by 102 personnel from the Ethiopian Armed Forces on August 9-11, who refused to leave the area despite UNMEE protests;

Appreciative of the leadership role that Canada has played in the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), including the deployment of 450 Canadian peacekeepers to the region at the cessation of hostilities;

Calls on the Government of Canada to increase the pressure on the Government of Ethiopia to accept, in full, the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, including the decision on the town of Badme,

Proposes that the Government of Canada forcefully indicate to the Government of Ethiopia that our future cooperation, would heavily depend on Ethiopia’s acquiescence to the recommendations of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission;

Suggests that the Government of Canada offer incentives, in terms of developmental aid or/and other assistance to the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea, if they live up to their obligations under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Algiers, especially with regards to the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission provisions.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Irwin Cotler, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “, including development assistance,”.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 1.

It was agreed, — That the motion be adopted as a Report of the Committee and that the Chair or his designate present it to the House.

Irwin Cotler moved, —

That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade,

Concerned that Dr. Wang Bingzhang, founder of the China Democracy movement, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in China;

Aware that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has determined that the charges are without foundation, that they are in violation of international law and that he has been denied the right to a fair trial;

Noting that Dr. Wang Bingzhang has a close connection to Canada - he is a doctoral graduate of McGill University in medecine and his parents reside in British Columbia, his children in Quebec and his siblings in Ontario;

Calls upon the Chinese Government to release Dr. Wang Bingzhang from prison, and permit him to be reunited with his family and colleagues.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 3.

It was agreed, — That the motion be adopted as a Report of the Committee and that the Chair or his designate present it to the House.

Francine Lalonde moved, — That the Committee recommend to the government the Action Plan submitted by Stephan Hachemi and a coalition of 19 human rights defence organizations in order to insure that justice be rendered in the case of the assassination of Mrs. Zhara Kazemi, Montreal photo-journalist and Canadian citizen..

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

Keith Martin moved, — That in the opinion of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Canadian Government should make all efforts to indict Zimbabwe’s President, Robert Mugabe, for crimes against humanity.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the debate be now adjourned.

At 11:02 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.