The Iranians we left behind - The Globe and Mail
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/the-iranians-we-left-behind/article4648095/?service=mobile ...."When Canada closed its embassy in Tehran last month, it
wasn’t just Canadian diplomats who were affected. We left
behind a small number of local staff, and their plight
deserves attention. Blindsided by Ottawa’s decision,
they’re now in danger of becoming collateral damage in
the dysfunctional relationship between Canada and Iran."... ...."Some of our Iranian staff have been in contact with me,
and this is how they experienced it: They went home one
weekend having no notion it would be the last time they’d
see their Canadian colleagues. At weekend’s end, one of
the local staff heard the news from a BBC Persian service
broadcast. That’s how they found out they’d been
abandoned. You can imagine their shock.
This isn’t exactly a first in Canadian diplomatic history, but
it’s close. In Iran, we had to do so in 1980 under
completely understandable circumstances. Usually,
however, when we leave a country, we do it in an orderly
manner and treat our local staff with respect. "....
...."When Britain closed its embassy in Tehran last November,
their local staff received a package that recognized the
extraordinary conditions in Iran. Other missions that have
closed have made similar offers. Given our leadership in
criticizing Iran’s human-rights record and our emphasis on
promoting Canadian values in our foreign policy, Canada
should treat its former employees in Tehran more fairly. It
should also undertake to expedite any visa requests that
our local staff might wish to make."....
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/the-iranians-we-left-behind/article4648095/?service=mobile ...."When Canada closed its embassy in Tehran last month, it
wasn’t just Canadian diplomats who were affected. We left
behind a small number of local staff, and their plight
deserves attention. Blindsided by Ottawa’s decision,
they’re now in danger of becoming collateral damage in
the dysfunctional relationship between Canada and Iran."... ...."Some of our Iranian staff have been in contact with me,
and this is how they experienced it: They went home one
weekend having no notion it would be the last time they’d
see their Canadian colleagues. At weekend’s end, one of
the local staff heard the news from a BBC Persian service
broadcast. That’s how they found out they’d been
abandoned. You can imagine their shock.
This isn’t exactly a first in Canadian diplomatic history, but
it’s close. In Iran, we had to do so in 1980 under
completely understandable circumstances. Usually,
however, when we leave a country, we do it in an orderly
manner and treat our local staff with respect. "....
...."When Britain closed its embassy in Tehran last November,
their local staff received a package that recognized the
extraordinary conditions in Iran. Other missions that have
closed have made similar offers. Given our leadership in
criticizing Iran’s human-rights record and our emphasis on
promoting Canadian values in our foreign policy, Canada
should treat its former employees in Tehran more fairly. It
should also undertake to expedite any visa requests that
our local staff might wish to make."....
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