http://www.canada.com/Canada+vows+firm+defence+Arctic+border/2257070/story.html
Canwest News Service November 23, 2009 Canada vows `firm' defence of Arctic border By Randy Boswell Singling out Russia as a thorn in Canada's side when it comes to Arctic sovereignty, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon warned the world on Monday that this country will respond ``firmly'' when other nations ``push the envelope'' with military exercises or other provocative actions anywhere along Canada's northern frontier. Indicating the Conservative government's intent to send ``a clear message to the world,'' Cannon said Canada plans to work co-operatively with other Arctic nations but added: ``Make no mistake . . . our government does, and always will, stand up for our interests and ownership over the Arctic.'' In a Toronto speech to the Economic Club of Canada, Cannon said the country's future as an ``energy superpower'' is closely tied to potentially rich deposits of Arctic oil and gas on land and seabed. ``This is why we react so strongly when other nations, like Russia, engage in exercises and other activities that appear to challenge our security in the North and undermine the co-operative relationships that we have built,'' Cannon stated. ``Many states and institutions that have historically not paid attention to the Arctic are now turning their attention there,'' he added. ``We have seen various actions and initiatives that demonstrate a lack of sensitivity to the interests and perspectives of the Arctic peoples and states. Canada will continue to address these situations firmly.'' .... Canada has clashed rhetorically several times with Moscow in recent years over the flight of Russian bombers near Canadian airspace, a high-profile flag-planting by a Russian submarine on the North Pole seabed, and a planned Russian paratrooper drop at the North Pole in 2010. .... =========================== Stop NATO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stopnato Blog site: http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/ To subscribe, send an e-mail to: [email protected] or [email protected] Daily digest option available. ==============================
