Diplomatica: ‘Whole world’ must work to solve refugee crisis

Ambassador Furio De Angelis, the UN Refugee Agency’s man in Ottawa, says the media attention on the refugee crisis hitting Europe from all directions is a good thing, and one he hopes will translate into “concrete action.”
He said the situation is dramatic, but it’s also a reflection of his agency’s June prediction. That month, the organization noted that global displacement in the world — almost 60 million people worldwide — was the highest since the Second World War. “Now, it’s just a small spillover of this huge global phenomenon. And it’s a spillover from Syria, the region that has been in conflict for the last four years. Most of the others are from Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Eritrea.”
He said the Syrian assistance programs in the Middle East is funded at just 33 per cent of its needs: “85 per cent of Syrian refugees in Jordan live below the national poverty line, which is $3.20 a day. So is it surprising at all that we now have 300,000 people coming through Greece and Italy? No, it’s not. What do you expect people to do after four years after this desperate life?”
De Angelis said the crisis needs to be tackled from two angles. First, “the whole world” has to find a political solution. “Any countries that have any influence over the countries in conflict must come together and find a political solution to the crisis.”
The other angle is the financial part. “As the high commissioner (António Guterres, UN high commissioner for refugees) has said several times over the last few years, the humanitarian assistance system is almost bankrupt because the needs are escalating thanks to the lack of a political solution.”
De Angelis said his organization won’t get involved in the Canadian election, but noted that the Conservative government announced in January 2015 its intent to bring in 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next three years. He didn’t know if a Conservative election promise last month to bring in 10,000 means it’s the same 10,000 or 10,000 more. “We will wait and see what comes out of it,” he said, and added that he doesn’t know how many Syrian refugees have arrived in Canada since January.
Taiwan’s rep heading home
To know how busy Taiwan’s representative in Canada has been since he arrived one year ago, you need only check Bruce Linghu’s appointment book. One of his aides did and counted a total of 242 official meetings. That didn’t include tête-à-têtes he would have had at receptions or conferences — the count included only sit-down meetings, lunches, dinners or rounds of golf he set and had throughout the year.
His posting as representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office — Taiwan’s equivalent of a diplomatic mission in Canada — is ending a couple of years early because the foreign office tapped him to be the next deputy minister of foreign affairs. Nevertheless, he has a lot to show for his short time in Ottawa.
Asked about his achievements, he names high-level visits from Taiwanese ministers, some of which resulted in the signing of memorandums of understanding, and trade exchanges with large delegations of politicians and business leaders from Taiwan. But perhaps his crowning achievement is that his name is on the original document pledging interest in signing a bilateral agreement to avoid double taxation (ADTA). It may not seem all that significant, but it’s the first step on the “roadmap” to strengthen Taiwan’s bilateral ties with Canada, he said during an interview in his office overlooking the Centre Block.
“We are Canada’s No. 5 trading partner in Asia and No. 12 for the world,” the enthusiastic envoy said. “There’s still a lot to be done.”
That roadmap includes the ADTA, then a foreign investment protection agreement, followed, ideally, by an economic co-operation agreement and culminating through mutual membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“The ADTA’s negotiations are coming to the final stage,” he said. “Because of the election, everything has been suspended, but after the election, we will be pretty close to signing this agreement.”
Slovenian eats
Santé Restaurant is teaming up with the Slovenian embassy for an evening of culture and cuisine, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. Slovenian Ambassador Marjan Cencen will welcome guests to a dinner prepared by chef Michael Steh. Guests will be shown sculptures by Lučka Koščak and treated to Slovenian music. The cost of the dinner is $55, beverages excluded. For reservations, call 613-241-7113or visit santerestaurant.com.
Envoys salute film institute
Etsuko Monji, wife of the Japanese ambassador, Costa Rican Ambassador Roberto Carlos Dormond Cantu, Canadian Film Institute director Tom McSorley and Japanese Ambassador Kenjiro Monji attended the institute’s 80th anniversary celebration Aug. 27 at Ottawa City Hall. ULLE BAUM

Arctic Council art

The Embassy of Norway organized an artist talk on Aug. 27 at the Ottawa School of Art. The event took place in connection with the Arctic Council’s Young Artists Competition at the school. From left: Signe Ahren, Tormod Andersen, Elise Embla Scheele, Norwegian cultural affairs officer Jan-Terje Studsvik Storaas and school director Jeff Stellick. ULLE BAUM
A big cheque for cancer society

Gabriel Miller, director of public issues for the Canadian Cancer Society, UAE Ambassador Mohammed Saif Helal Al Shehhi, counsellor Hamad Al Awadi and attaché Jamal Al Zaabi took part in a cheque presentation at the embassy, which donated $10,000 to the Canadian Cancer Society. ULLE BAUM