Canada has opted to ignore the expulsion order the embattled Ivory Coast President issued this week to the Canadian ambassador because Ottawa does not accept Laurent Gbagbo to be the rightful leader of the African nation, prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday.
“The government of Canada obviously does not recognize the expulsion order because we do not recognize the regime that issued it,” Mr. Harper told reporters during a news conference in Welland, Ont. “We recognize the legitimately elected leader of the Ivory Coast as the head of the government of the Ivory Coast.”
Canada has asked Ivoirien diplomats to leave Ottawa to protest Mr. Gbagbo's refusal to cede power after he lost the Nov. 28 presidential runoff to Alassane Ouattara.
“A primary concern as we go forward will be the safety and security of our ambassador and our embassy personnel and we are working with the Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defence very closely to do what we can to assure their security and, within that context, to provide as best we can representation to the new government of the Ivory Coast,” said Mr. Harper.
The Prime Minister was also asked if Canada would support the outcome of a referendum in Sudan, which begins Sunday in which the southern part of the country is expected to vote to secede from the north.
“The referendum was established under peace accords signed several years ago,” Mr. Harper replied. “They lay out the course of the referendum, the thresholds for the acceptance of a vote to create a new state and obviously we will encourage all parties to abide by the terms of the peace accords.”
