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Canadian PM says rebuilding relationship with UN

Xinhua, February 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said here Thursday that his country is looking to win a seat on the UN Security Council as part of a move to renew its relationship with the world body.

The prime minister made the remarks at a joint press conference with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon following a meeting.

The UN chief arrived here early Thursday for a three-day working visit.

"On the issue of the UN Security Council, I highlighted to the secretary general that part of Canada wishing to re-engage robustly with the United Nations and in multilateral engagement around the world, including looking towards a bid for the UN Security Council," Trudeau said.

"We're looking at a number of windows in the coming years. We are going to evaluate the opportunities for Canada to mount a successful bid," Trudeau added

At the press conference, Trudeau also said he told Ban that Canada wants to be involved as a peacemaker. "I reiterated the commitment of our government to strengthen the UN's ability to maintain international peace and security, including by increasing support for peace operations and contributing more to mediation, conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction efforts."

Ban said he welcomed Trudeau's plan to rebuild a robust relationship with the UN, saying Canada had a long and distinguished partnership with the world organization.

He said "Canada is one of our most important partners" and applauded Trudeau's important role in helping secure the breakthrough global agreement on climate change reached at the Paris summit last December.

The UN chief also applauded Canada's ongoing efforts to bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees.

Both Ban and Trudeau expressed their outrage over recent allegations that UN peacekeepers sexually abused underage girls in the Central African Republic.

Canada is one of the founding members of the world body. In 2010, Canada, for the first time in its history, failed to get the required number of votes to secure a rotating seat on the Security Council. The Stephen Harper government has been criticized at the time for failing to make a strong bid for the seat.

Canada has historically had a strong role in peacekeeping. It was former Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson who first proposed the notion of a UN-led Peacekeeping Force, during the 1956 Suez Crisis. The following year, Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

However, Canadian involvement in UN peacekeeping dwindled sharply in the past years. At present, Canada only has 113 police, military experts and troops currently deployed in UN peacekeeping missions, compared with more than 3,000 blue helmets in February 1993.

During the visit, except meetings with Trudeau and Canadian Governor-General David Johnston in Ottawa, the UN chief will head to Montreal, where he will meet Mayor Denis Coderre, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and members of the International Civil Aviation Organization. He will also deliver an address at McGill University. Endit