(Phnom Penh) Foreign Minister Melanie Joly says she will not meet her Russian counterpart when the two cross paths at upcoming international summits.
Mme Joly says she is ready to collaborate with China on certain subjects, but adds that Russia must be treated as a pariah.
The Canadian minister will participate in a series of international summits, as will the Russian minister Sergei Lavrov.
She would refuse to do so, even if she were invited to the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or the G20. According to Mme Joly, meeting Mr. Lavrov would legitimize the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The minister had recently said that Canada would try to limit its relations with China, expressing concerns on a host of subjects ranging from human rights to the question of intellectual property.
However, M.me Joly says she would agree to meet with Chinese leaders because Canada wants to work together on things like climate change.
In fact, she expects to be seated next to the Chinese representative during the G20 which will take place on November 15 and 16 in Bali, Indonesia. The seats are arranged in alphabetical order by country during these major international meetings.
“There is a struggle for influence underway,” said the minister. Our goal is to isolate Russia economically, politically and diplomatically. »
Mme Joly said Mr. Lavrov left a meeting of G20 foreign ministers last summer after pressure mounted against Russia.
“There is a growing consensus that what is happening in Ukraine is completely unacceptable. »
