1:52 PM
US A MA
OTTAWA - Canada will not shut its embassy in Syria, officials say, after the United States evacuated all diplomatic staff and closed its embassy in the country on Monday.
A spokesman for Foreign Minister John Baird said that Canada is not considering following the U.S. lead.
``The U.S. as a sovereign nation makes decisions based on its situation,'' wrote Rick Roth in an email. ``We make decisions based on ours.''
Roth said Canada's ambassador to Syria - retired vice-admiral Glenn Davidson - will remain in Damascus to voice Canada's displeasure at the ongoing government crackdown in the country.
``Canada has extremely strong views about the abhorrent actions of the current regime,'' he wrote. ``And our ambassador continues to deliver those messages at the highest levels.''
``We have been clear: Assad must go,'' Roth wrote.
In August, Davidson was named Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan, but has not yet left Syria to assume his next post due to the continuing turmoil in the Middle Eastern country.
Opposition foreign affairs critic Helene Laverdiere said Monday it's time for Canada to recall its ambassador to Syria.
``We think that it would be time to recall our ambassador to Syria, as to send a strong message to the Syrian regime,'' the NDP MP told reporters in Ottawa Monday. ``This will send a very clear message to the Assad regime.''
Anti-government protesters have been calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down since unrest began in January 2011. The regime has fought back against the uprising, and is currently shelling civilian areas of the revolutionary city of Homs. Syrian opposition groups say 50 were killed in the most recent attack on Homs.
The United States cited security concerns as the reason for closing its mission to Damascus.
Laverdiere, a former career diplomat, said Canada should not go so far.
``It's not a question of cutting diplomatic ties completely,'' she said. ``Our position doesn't go as far as that of the United States.''
With many Canadians still in Syria, the embassy must remain open to provide consular services, she said.
``It's clear the Canadian government has a responsibility to Canadians who find themselves in Syria,'' Laverdiere said.
On Jan. 31, Baird issued orders to reduce the number of diplomatic staff in Syria.
``Due to the growing instability in Syria, Canada has reduced its diplomatic staff in Syria to core personnel only,'' he said. ``Canada's embassy remains open and continues to offer limited services in Damascus and in Aleppo through our honorary consulate.''
The visa and immigration section of Canada's mission in Damascus has been closed, Baird said, and those services have been transferred to neighbouring countries.
Baird said Canadians have begun leaving Syria, and he urged all other Canadians to do the same.
``Since Dec. 15, approximately 300 Canadians have informed us that they have left Syria,'' he said. ``We hope that more will follow their example.''
``We continue to urge Canadians still in Syria to leave now.''
A spokesman for Foreign Minister John Baird said that Canada is not considering following the U.S. lead.
``The U.S. as a sovereign nation makes decisions based on its situation,'' wrote Rick Roth in an email. ``We make decisions based on ours.''
Roth said Canada's ambassador to Syria - retired vice-admiral Glenn Davidson - will remain in Damascus to voice Canada's displeasure at the ongoing government crackdown in the country.
``Canada has extremely strong views about the abhorrent actions of the current regime,'' he wrote. ``And our ambassador continues to deliver those messages at the highest levels.''
``We have been clear: Assad must go,'' Roth wrote.
In August, Davidson was named Canada's ambassador to Afghanistan, but has not yet left Syria to assume his next post due to the continuing turmoil in the Middle Eastern country.
Opposition foreign affairs critic Helene Laverdiere said Monday it's time for Canada to recall its ambassador to Syria.
``We think that it would be time to recall our ambassador to Syria, as to send a strong message to the Syrian regime,'' the NDP MP told reporters in Ottawa Monday. ``This will send a very clear message to the Assad regime.''
Anti-government protesters have been calling for President Bashar al-Assad to step down since unrest began in January 2011. The regime has fought back against the uprising, and is currently shelling civilian areas of the revolutionary city of Homs. Syrian opposition groups say 50 were killed in the most recent attack on Homs.
The United States cited security concerns as the reason for closing its mission to Damascus.
Laverdiere, a former career diplomat, said Canada should not go so far.
``It's not a question of cutting diplomatic ties completely,'' she said. ``Our position doesn't go as far as that of the United States.''
With many Canadians still in Syria, the embassy must remain open to provide consular services, she said.
``It's clear the Canadian government has a responsibility to Canadians who find themselves in Syria,'' Laverdiere said.
On Jan. 31, Baird issued orders to reduce the number of diplomatic staff in Syria.
``Due to the growing instability in Syria, Canada has reduced its diplomatic staff in Syria to core personnel only,'' he said. ``Canada's embassy remains open and continues to offer limited services in Damascus and in Aleppo through our honorary consulate.''
The visa and immigration section of Canada's mission in Damascus has been closed, Baird said, and those services have been transferred to neighbouring countries.
Baird said Canadians have begun leaving Syria, and he urged all other Canadians to do the same.
``Since Dec. 15, approximately 300 Canadians have informed us that they have left Syria,'' he said. ``We hope that more will follow their example.''
``We continue to urge Canadians still in Syria to leave now.''
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