Canada PoliticsJohn Baird pens tough-talk missive directed at the Iranian regime
Next Tuesday marks Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's 100th day in office.
For some, Rouhani's has been a breath of fresh air especially in comparison to his predecessor — the sometimes bombastic and belligerent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The new president has actually opened the door — ever so slightly — to a new relationship with west.
In September, prior to attending the United Nations' National Assembly, Rouhani oversaw the release of 11 of Iran’s most prominent political prisoners. Then, in his speech to the UN, he said that "peace was within reach" and indicated his willingness to negotiate concessions with regard Iran's nuclear program. Those negotiations are currently underway.
[ Related: Iran hardliners attack Rohani on US embassy siege anniversary ]
Rouhani even took to Twitter to boast about a conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama — the first direct conversation between an American and Iranian leader in over three decades.
In phone convo, President #Rouhani and President @BarackObama expressed their mutual political #will to rapidly solve the #nuclear issue.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 27, 2013
It seems the international community is under no illusions about Rouhani's motivations: Economic sanctions against Iran have hit their economy hard and Rouhani wants some relief.
In spite of that, in some circles, Ahmadinejad's successor is being lauded for his actions during his first 100 days.
[ Related: Iran breakthrough possible with new president, former ambassador Taylor says ]
Instead of sending a bouquet, however, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is sending in Rouhani a beef.
In an op-ed published in the National Post on Thursday, Baird says that while he welcomes the president's "conciliatory tone", he's still waiting for any real action.
We do not have the luxury of being naïve. Nor do the Iranian people, who have suffered for far too long. Standing in front of cameras and tweeting about change are all too easy. The hard part is following through, making difficult decisions and undertaking meaningful change. We must judge the Iranian government by its deeds, not its words. President Rouhani marks his first 100 days in office on Tuesday and, by any measure, these deeds have fallen short.
Baird is taking a harder stand against Iran than most others in the international community. Given our recent history, perhaps that shouldn't come as a surprise.
The Harper government and the Iranian regime have had an adversarial relationship for the past several years. Citing Iran's nuclear program, its assistance to the government of Syria and its hostility towards Israel, the Harper government has publicly chided the regime, have shuddered their embassy in Iran and, earlier this year, said it would enforce a total trade ban on Iranian goods.
But, in his column, Baird says Canada stands "shoulder to shoulder" with the people of Iran.
We know that Iran’s human rights record is deeply troubling and that these abuses are continuing. Women continue to face serious discrimination. Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities also continue to face disproportionate discrimination, as well as harassment by authorities. More than 100 members of the Bahá‘í faith alone remain imprisoned on charges related to practising and organizing for their religion, and advocating for their rights.
Our skepticism regarding Iran is drawn from seeing decades of inaction on issues such as these.
Baird is calling on the regime to implement several measures as a sign that they're serious about reforms. Among other things, he wants Iran to let a UN Rapporteur enter the country to investigate human rights abuses; he wants them to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and he wants them to guarantee freedom of expression "including full, unfettered access to the Internet."
Baird's op-ed column can be read here.
(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)
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