Russia summons Canadian charge d’affaires to protest foreign minister’s comments

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russia announced Tuesday that it summoned Canada’s charge d’affaires for comments made by the Canadian foreign minister.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Brian Ebel was summoned Monday and was told that the comments are “unacceptable and run counter to the obligations of Canada as a state party to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, as well as the generally recognized principles and norms of international law.”

It noted that Moscow reserves the right to implement “appropriate countermeasures” depending on future steps by Canada “in the context of his declared course of confrontation with Russia.”

“It was especially noted that the next Russophobic attack, which has not yet been disavowed by the Canadian side, will have the most serious consequences for bilateral relations,” it said.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said at a March 10 news conference that Ottawa can see how sanctions on Moscow are affecting a possible “regime change” in Russia.

“We’re able to see how much we’re isolating the Russian regime right now – because we need to do so economically, politically and diplomatically -- and what are the impacts also on society, and how much we’re seeing potential regime change in Russia,” Joly said.

Russian Ambassador to Canada Oleg Stepanov responded on Twitter, saying: “Quite perplexed to hear from Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly that her goal is ‘regime change’ in Russia. Is it how she instructs the Canadian Embassy in Moscow.”