Thursday, May 15, 2008

UN Security Council Seat a Popularity Contest Not Necessarily Worth Winning

If the only way to get a seat on the UN Security Council is to pander to tyrannical regimes and totalitarian states, then perhaps Canada should not be so desirous of one.

Canada is currently not represented on the Security Council, although we are currently seeking election to a seat for 20011-2012. There has been some media speculation that Canada's chance of getting one of two available seats has decreased. Yesterday the Liberal Party put out a press release criticizing the government saying that "in two years, this Prime Minister has diminished our place at the United Nations."

I am proud of the stands that Canada's government has taken on issues under the Conservatives. No longer do we stand on the sidelines, afraid to give an accurate assessment of a situation out of fear of offending some nation or another.

We should not concern ourselves with what the dictatorships and authoritarians of the world think of us. If they approve of what Canada is doing, then we are obviously not doing enough to stand up for security and human rights and freedoms in the world. If the price for representation on the Security Council is to lose our ability to comment accurately and frankly on the state of world affairs, then I, for one, would rather we sacrifice the seat than our principles.

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