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Ban, Trudeau Meeting Marks Canada's Returns to World Stage

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's visit Thursday to meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marked the return of Canada on the world diplomatic stage, after a decade-long retreat from multi-lateralism.

"I want to restore Canada's voice and leadership role at the U.N.," Trudeau said ahead of Ban's arrival in Ottawa, casting the first visit of a U.N. chief in years as recognition of the new Liberal government's commitment to working in concert with other nations.

Whereas his Conservative predecessor, Stephen Harper, sought distance from the United Nations in order to carve out an independent and assertive foreign policy, Trudeau has signaled that he intends for Canada to play an important and increased role beyond its borders through the New York-based global organization.

Symbolically, Trudeau invited Ban to Canada on the 100th day of his new government in office, on the heels of commitments to tackle climate change and resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February -- both of which Ban has praised.

The pair are also expected to discuss Canadian contributions to peacekeeping missions around the world.

"I'd like to see many countries emulate such kind of compassion and leadership shown by the prime minister," Ban told public broadcaster CBC.

Ban and Trudeau were scheduled to visit a Syrian refugee welcoming center. Some 20,000 have arrived in Canada since November.

During the secretary general's visit, Trudeau said Canada will "reaffirm its commitment to the U.N.," and highlight Canada's commitment to global issues including "climate change and climate finance; the situation in Syria, Iraq, and surrounding countries; refugee resettlement; and the health of women and children around the world."

Trudeau announced Monday the withdrawal of Canadian fighter jets conducting airstrikes in Iraq and Syria as part of the U.S.-led coalition pushing back the Islamic State group, while pledging to triple the number of special forces training Kurdish militia in northern Iraq to about 210.

Ban is expected to ask Trudeau to increase the number of troops deployed abroad on U.N. peacekeeping missions, notably in Haiti and in Central African Republic.

There are currently 36 Canadian soldiers in Haiti, Jerusalem, South Sudan, Cypress, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Korea, down from a reported 3,000 at its peak in 1993.

On the environmental front, Trudeau made a splash at the last climate talks in Paris last December, vowing strong measures to curb Canadian greenhouse gas emissions in order to keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, but left the meeting without announcing a firm Canadian target for cutting CO2 emissions.

Trudeau is expected to begin hammering out details of a climate plan when he meets with his provincial counterparts on March 3 in Vancouver. He must also, however, be mindful of the economic challenges facing oil producing regions, notably Alberta province where thousands have lost their jobs over the past year due to the plunge in oil prices.

Canada is the world's fifth largest oil producer.

Trudeau has also pledged to fight institutional discrimination against indigenous peoples, with plans to hold a public inquiry into 1,200 missing and murdered aboriginal women since 1980.

As part of an overall rapprochement with natives, he has signaled he would ratify and fully implement the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Canada and three other countries -- Australia, New Zealand and the United States -- were the only nations to vote against the U.N. indigenous text in 2007.

After their morning meeting, Trudeau and Ban will also participate in a student assembly and later dine at the Canadian Museum of History, before Ban heads to Montreal, which is home to the U.N. aviation agency, for more talks on Friday.

Source: Agence France Presse


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