by Noah Shack
Government Relations Research Associate, Canada-Israel Committee
On May 3rd 2010, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Conference. As expected, Ahmadinejad denied Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and support for terrorism, instead launching a diatribe against Israel, the United States and their allies.
Canada did not attend Ahmadinejad’s address, while representatives of the United States, Britain, France, Hungary, New Zealand and the Netherlands walked out in protest of the Iranian President’s aggressive and inflammatory rhetoric.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon declared that “the onus is on Iran to dissipate doubts and concerns about its nuclear ambitions,” echoing a statement delivered earlier in the day by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. Cannon also called for “immediate and complete cessation of Iran’s uranium enrichment and other sensitive proliferation activities,” noting that there is no justifiable reason for Iran to acquire the full nuclear fuel cycle.
Without specifically mentioning Israel, Cannon urged the three countries not party to the NPT to accede to it as non-nuclear weapons states.
You can view a video of Cannon's speech below, and read more in this Canadian Press article: "Cannon boycotts Iranian leader's speech at UN conference on nukes."
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