Archives - Jean Chrétien

Address to the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker,

I want to report to you and the House the remarkable events of the last week. And the reasons that Canada decided to take the lead in putting together a mission to bring aid to the starving masses of refugees in Central Africa.

As everyone knows, the situation on the ground has improved dramatically since our initiative was launched last week. Refugees in the hundreds of thousands have crossed the border back to Rwanda. This change is due in large part to the resolve shown by the international community -- under the leadership of Canada.

Much has been written and said about the actions of our government. About our decision to try to break the logjam at the United Nations. To galvanize the international community into action. To offer Canadian leadership for a dangerous, but essential international mission.

But when all is said and done, the basic fact is that Canada acted because it was the decent, human thing to do. We acted because two world wars and forty years of peace keeping have taught us that the world cannot turn its back on turmoil and disaster. We acted because deeply ingrained in our very being as Canadians is a very clear and basic understanding that we are citizens of the world, that we take that citizenship very seriously, and that when it is time to stand up and be counted... Canada is there.

That is the way it was through two world wars. Through forty years of peace keeping.

As the most privileged of nations -- we have understood and valued the responsibility of world citizenship.

There is no mystery to this impulse. No calculation. No posturing. This government felt it. The leaders of the four opposition parties, who we consulted, felt it. The men and women of our armed forces, who, without hesitation, stood ready to take the lead, felt it. Our diplomats in posts around the world, and public servants in Foreign Affairs, National Defence and CIDA, who helped plan and organize this initiative felt it.

People across the country felt it.

So the government's decision to act, to appeal to the international community, was not a difficult one. It was not taken lightly -- committing men and women to dangerous situations, even as part of a large international force, can never be taken lightly.

But it was the natural thing to do. It was arrived at without fanfare. Without drama and breast-beating. But in a typical understated, matter-of-fact, Canadian way: there was a job to do, and we were ready to do it.

So in itself, our decision was not remarkable.

What was remarkable was the reaction of the international community. I wish every Canadian could have listened into the telephone conversations I had last week with the leaders of other nations.

From the leaders of the wealthiest, most powerful countries to the leaders of small, developing nations, including United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the reaction was consistent and powerful: Canada's identity as a peacekeeper, as an honest broker, as a force for decency and humanity around the world -- again and again this is what the world's leaders told me.

Sometimes it is useful to raise our heads, clear our minds, and see ourselves as the world sees us. Last week, in our appeals to the nations of the world, in our presence at the United Nations, in the quick and responsive moves of General Baril and his colleagues, the world saw a voice for reason and compassion. A new world nation, without the burdens of history that weigh so many nations down. A diverse, bilingual country that knows the importance of accommodation and understanding.

They saw a country that had no self interest in its call for action. That had a proven record in peace keeping and sensitive military operations. That had the credibility to pull together an international effort -- and the ability to execute it.

They understood that our history, our experience, our reality made us uniquely suited to this urgent task. A country without a colonial past in Africa. A bilingual country with links to and an ability to operate in this French-speaking corner of the world. An international player, that is at once a G-7 nation and a middle-power.

Mr. Speaker, these are the reasons we launched our initiative last week. And why we succeeded in convincing the international community to join us.

But it is only a prologue to the actual humanitarian operation. And Canadians deserve to know what we have gotten into and what we can reasonably expect.

As I speak, more than 400,000 refugees have crossed back into Rwanda in the Goma Area. Another 150,000 are expected to cross over in the next two days.

These developments are all good news. But let's not forget that fighting continues in the region and the situation is very fluid.

We know the changes on the ground will affect the mission. Let me tell you what is being done to address this changing situation. Yesterday, we announced new humanitarian aid to respond to changing needs on the ground.

And we dispatched General Baril to assess the situation in the region.

Canada and all nations involved in this humanitarian effort are in close contact. We will be meeting with other countries in Stuttgart on Thursday to discuss the impact of these events on the proposed military mission. The Secretary of State for Africa will be on that continent later this week, consulting with governments there. And in the coming days, Canada will be convening a meeting of aid donors to mobilize support for the resettlement of those returning.

But the international community must continue its efforts to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid by civilian relief organizations, to alleviate the immediate suffering we have all seen in our homes on our televisions every night.

And to facilitate the return to their homes in Rwanda of those refugees who want to return.

Canada will continue to take the lead in working with the international community. We are all committed to ending the suffering.

For Canada, the last week has been a special moment. A moment of which we can all be proud. We do not know now exactly what the coming days and weeks will bring.

And in those difficult moments we must remember what this mission is all about. In a century ravaged by war and aggression, we have called for a commitment that has nothing to do with conquest or glory.

We are not entering into combat with an enemy.

Our only enemy is human suffering. Our only foe is hunger and disease. Our only adversary is pain and misery.

We have already won an early battle against moral blindness and self-interest, by galvanizing the world community into action. Let us now do what is required to complete the task.