Canada closed Iranian embassy because of money problems: Tehran
OTTAWA — An Iranian official has alleged the Harper government closed Canada’s embassy in Tehran because of budgetary issues.
“One of the reasons for their move is definitely the economic crisis,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as telling Iran’s official Mehr News Agency on Monday.
Mehmanparast went on to claim that Canadian officials had said they’d saved about $150 million through closing embassies in a number of countries.
Exactly where that figure came from is unclear.
The Harper government has closed embassies and diplomatic missions in a number of countries over the years, including in Cambodia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Russia, Germany and Japan.
Foreign Affairs is facing $170 million in spending cuts over the next three years,which represents about seven per cent of its $2.6-billion budget.
But the Harper government has also opened or planned to open new embassies or trade missions in Burma, Mongolia, China, India, Brazil, Mexico and others.
And the new budget cuts have reportedly left Canada’s diplomatic network largely untouched, aside from the closure of several consulates in the United States in response to that country’s economic slowdown, as well as regional trade offices across Canada.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has repeatedly cited security concerns, Iran’s poor human rights record and support for terrorism, and its nuclear program as among the reasons for the embassy’s closure on Sept. 7.
An official in his office dismissed Mehmanparast’s allegations on Thursday.
“The accurate reasons for closing the embassy have been clearly stated by the prime minister and the foreign minister,” Rick Roth said in an email.
lberthiaume@postmedia.com
© Copyright (c) Postmedia News
“One of the reasons for their move is definitely the economic crisis,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as telling Iran’s official Mehr News Agency on Monday.
Mehmanparast went on to claim that Canadian officials had said they’d saved about $150 million through closing embassies in a number of countries.
Exactly where that figure came from is unclear.
The Harper government has closed embassies and diplomatic missions in a number of countries over the years, including in Cambodia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Russia, Germany and Japan.
Foreign Affairs is facing $170 million in spending cuts over the next three years,which represents about seven per cent of its $2.6-billion budget.
But the Harper government has also opened or planned to open new embassies or trade missions in Burma, Mongolia, China, India, Brazil, Mexico and others.
And the new budget cuts have reportedly left Canada’s diplomatic network largely untouched, aside from the closure of several consulates in the United States in response to that country’s economic slowdown, as well as regional trade offices across Canada.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has repeatedly cited security concerns, Iran’s poor human rights record and support for terrorism, and its nuclear program as among the reasons for the embassy’s closure on Sept. 7.
An official in his office dismissed Mehmanparast’s allegations on Thursday.
“The accurate reasons for closing the embassy have been clearly stated by the prime minister and the foreign minister,” Rick Roth said in an email.
lberthiaume@postmedia.com
© Copyright (c) Postmedia News
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