Archive for June, 2011

The remarkable career of diplomat Margaret Huber

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
The remarkable career of diplomat Margaret Huber

Margaret Huber, Canada’s chief of protocol, comes to the demanding job in the 38th year of her career with Foreign Affairs. That career has included head-of-mission positions in the Czech Republic, Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq and Oman, consul-general positions in Milan and Osaka and postings to Washington, New York and Brussels. Diplomat talked to Ms Huber […]

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Ukraine connects with Canada – past and present

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
Ukraine connects with Canada – past and present

Ukraine and Canada have had a history of bilateral relations since Ukraine gained its independence in 1991. And long before that, there was the huge immigration from Ukraine to Canada, which started 120 years ago and led to the deep family and historic ties we have today, with more than one million people of Ukrainian […]

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Austria and Canada: An expanding partnership

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
Austria and Canada: An expanding partnership

Many Canadians think of Austria as a coveted tourist destination and a country of rich cultural heritage. At the same time, Austria is a highly industrialized country with ever-growing importance in the field of high-tech products. Like Canada, Austria’s economy is heavily oriented towards world markets and is export-driven. Austria today is a hub for […]

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On rebuilding Japan through spirit and resolve

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
On rebuilding Japan through spirit and resolve

Tradition. Innovation. These are two very powerful words. One refers to the actions and beliefs of the past that are upheld to the present day. The other looks towards the future, a concept that thrives on new ideas and a desire — for the most part — to make life better. Both tradition and innovation […]

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Turkish delights and other donations

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
Turkish delights and other donations

Every year since 1927, the Turkish people have celebrated in April what they call Children’s Day. On April 23, 1920, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was established and the following year April 23 was declared a national holiday. Six years later, in addition to being the country’s national day, it was named Children’s Day, […]

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The Visegrad Group: Europe’s new military alliance

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
The Visegrad Group: Europe’s new military alliance

With the Palestinians demonstrating and the International Monetary Fund in turmoil, it might seem odd to focus on something called the Visegrad Group. But this is not a frivolous choice. What the Visegrad Group has decided to do will, I think, resonate for years. The region is Europe — more precisely, the states that had […]

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NATO is neither dead nor dying

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
NATO is neither dead nor dying

Lord Ismay, NATO’s first secretary-general, once wryly observed that the purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was to “keep the Americans in, the Russians out, and the Germans down.” That political logic kept the alliance together during the Cold War and through the many crises it endured from its inception in 1949 until […]

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South Sudan celebrates independence, but old conflicts threaten world’s 196th nation

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
South Sudan celebrates independence, but old conflicts threaten world’s 196th nation

On July 9, the Republic of South Sudan celebrates its first day as a national entity — the world’s 196th nation and Africa’s 51st. The celebration comes after decades of war and ethnic conflict with the North. Parades and prayers, speeches, a soccer game, and party time after dark will mark the day. It’s all […]

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Nuclear power: When morality melts down

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
Nuclear power: When morality melts down

“One of the characteristics of the nuclear industry is stringent regulation. In 2002, the Japanese regulator severely penalized its largest nuclear operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, for falsifying certain documentation. All 17 of its reactors will shut down in 2003 for inspection, while one unit will be removed from service for one year as a […]

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Greening the Right of Way: Increasing public safety and air quality across Ontario

| June 26, 2011 | 0 Comments
Greening the Right of Way: Increasing public safety and air quality across Ontario

Thank you to Diplomat magazine for raising the important issue of tree planting in Ontario. Urgently needed: billions of trees, Lost Legacy, Winter 2011 issue). Protecting our environment is a key priority of the McGuinty Liberal government and, since being elected in 2003, we have put in place strong environmental legislation to make Ontario a […]

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