BFF-13 Canada PM does not back down on rights defense in Saudi spat

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Canada PM does not back down on rights defense in Saudi spat

OTTAWA, Aug 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on
Wednesday refused to apologize for calling out Saudi Arabia on its human
rights record, after Riyadh said it was considering further punitive measures
against Ottawa over its criticisms of the kingdom.

Tensions have been high between the two countries since Monday, when
Riyadh expelled Canada’s ambassador, recalled its own envoy and froze all new
trade and investments.

Riyadh also said it will relocate thousands of Saudi students studying in
Canada to other countries, while state airline Saudia announced it was
suspending flights to Toronto. The kingdom was angry at Ottawa for openly
denouncing a crackdown on rights activists in Saudi Arabia.

But on Wednesday, Trudeau stood firm.

“Canada will always speak strongly and clearly in private and in public on
questions of human rights,” he said.

“We do not wish to have poor relations with Saudi Arabia,” he added,
saying Ottawa recognizes that Riyadh “has made progress when it comes to
human rights.”

Trudeau noted that his foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland, had “a long
conversation” on Tuesday with her counterpart Adel al-Jubeir to try to
resolve the dispute.

“Diplomatic talks continue,” he said.

On Wednesday, Saudi state media said the kingdom has nevertheless also
stopped all medical treatment programs in Canada and was working on
transferring all Saudi patients there to other countries.

Further straining ties, the Saudi central bank has instructed its overseas
asset managers to dispose of their Canadian equities, bonds and cash holdings
“no matter the cost,” the Financial Times reported.

But in an apparent effort to safeguard its economic interests, Saudi
energy minister Khalid al-Falih said the dispute will not affect state oil
giant Aramco’s clients in Canada.

Saudi oil supplies are independent of political considerations, Falih was
quoted as saying by state media.

– ‘Matter of national security’ –

Last week, Canada sparked fury in Riyadh by calling for the “immediate
release” of rights campaigners, including award-winning women’s rights
activist Samar Badawi, the sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi.

That arrest came after more than a dozen women’s rights campaigners were
detained and accused of undermining national security and collaborating with
enemies of the state.

When asked about the jailed activists, Jubeir on Wednesday reiterated the
government’s stance that they had been in contact with foreign entities, but
did not specify the charges against them.

“The matter is not about human rights, it is a matter of national
security,” Jubeir told reporters.

“Saudi Arabia does not interfere in the affairs of Canada in any way.
Therefore, Canada must correct its actions towards the kingdom.”

Jubeir ruled out mediation as a way to put an end to the row.

“There is nothing to mediate,” he said.

“Canada made a big mistake… and a mistake should be corrected.”

Jubeir added that Saudi Arabia was “considering additional measures”
against Canada, without elaborating.

Experts have said the Saudi move illustrates how the oil-rich kingdom is
increasingly seeking to use its economic and diplomatic muscle to quell
foreign criticism under its young de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman.

In Canada, there was disappointment that major Western powers including
the United States — a key ally of Saudi Arabia — have not publicly come out
in support of Canada, though it is not the first country to be targeted for
speaking up.

In March 2015, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Stockholm over
criticism by the Swedish foreign minister of Riyadh’s human rights record.

Earlier this year, Bloomberg News reported that Saudi Arabia was scaling
back its dealings with some German companies amid a diplomatic spat with
Berlin.

The move came after Germany’s foreign minister last November remarked that
Lebanon was a “pawn” of Saudi Arabia after the surprise resignation of its
Prime Minister Saad Hariri while in Riyadh.

BSS/AFP/FI/ 0824 hrs