In an interview to Armenian News-NEWS.am, John Kur, the ambassador of Canada to Armenia (residence in Moscow), talks about the further prospects for bilateral economic ties, Canada’s ever-firm position on the Karabakh conflict, commitment to resettle refugees from Syria, and his meetings with Garou. For the final part, on the cooperation under the La Francophonie, the ambassador switched to excellent French, displaying the bilingual cultural wealth of Canada.

Canada is one of the largest investors in Armenia.  Deno Gold Mining is a notable  case in mining, and Macadamian Armenia in high-tech. Do you see any space for new business ventures?

I’ve had the opportunity to be ambassador here for the past 2 years. During that time we have seen a dramatic increase in the level of economic cooperation in a number of sectors. I think this is a very positive trend.

Canada is one of the largest foreign investors in Armenia because of the mining sector investments, through Dundee Precious Metals of Toronto. We also have a very good cooperation in the high technology sector with Macadamian Technologies. And we also have a Canadian-Armenian joint venture, Grand Candy, a confectionery producer. So you see there is wide variety of industries where there is cooperation.

Just about a year ago I had the pleasure of leading the largest ever Canadian trade mission to Armenia, of 20 business representatives. We were graciously received by the Prime Minister. The sectors of focus for that mission were agriculture and food, transportation and logistics, professional services.

In the latest reading of trade statistics, Armenian exports to Canada in 2015 have been in excess of 130 million dollars. That is a significant increase over 2014, but we are looking from a holistic perspective: imports in one direction, exports in another, investment, sharing of expertise – these are parts of the overall economic relationship, where we have very good prospects to diversify areas in which we are operating – for instance, not just to promote Canadian goods in Armenia, but also, in partnership with the Armenian embassy in Ottawa, to promote Armenian goods in the Canadian market. And certainly that would be something we can focus on in 2016.

What is the view of Canada on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

I can be very straightforward in my response. Canada’s position has been very firm and unwavering. Canada strongly supports the OSCE Minsk process, and we believe that dialogue and compromise through that process is the way to peacefully resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh situation. That is why we’ve been a strong supporter of the Minsk group negotiation process, and we will continue to be so in the future.

Canada is well known for its commitment to accept refugees from the Middle East, particularly Christian minorities. How are they being accommodated in a new society?

First of all, let me say that Canada’s strength is diversity; we are a country that was built on immigration. Canada is very proud to continue welcoming new Canadians from around the world.  In that sense the Government of Canada have committed to resettle 25,000 refugees from Syria. First flows have started already to arrive, including ethnic Armenians.  

For Canada, there’s been a very detailed strategy developed for accepting, welcoming, and integrating new Canadian arrivals. This strategy is a combination of efforts from the federal, provincial, and local municipal governments, very much a team effort across the country, which Canada takes very seriously, and of course one where we can apply our experience in helping new Canadians integrate into society, which is a pluralistic and peaceful society, but also one where maintaining one’s culture, linguistic and ethnic identity is very important for individual Canadians, including Armenian Canadians.

Have you had any personal contact with Atom Egoyan?

I’ve watched his films, but sadly have never met him. I have to admit that I’m quite envious of my counterpart, who is Canada’s ambassador to Mexico, because Egoyan was just in Mexico, and I saw on Twitter that the ambassador met him. I was secretly very envious.

But over the course of recent years I’ve had a chance to meet a number of international Armenian personalities, and of course there’s one particular singer which comes to mind, and whom I had the pleasure of meeting twice, including once at the event of La Francophonie.

Yes, most Armenians do love to search Armenian roots of Garou. And lastly a question on La Francophonie. Quel role joue-t-elle dans les relations bilaterales d’Armenie et Canada? (English translation underneath – NEWS.am).

J’aimerais vous dire que, pour le Canada, c’etait un plaisir de donner notre soutien a l’Armenie de devenir pays membre de la Francophonie.  C’est un grand plaisir de collaborer avec l’Armenie dans la Francophonie, d’avoir participe  a la conference ministerielle de Francophonie dans le mois d’Octobre d’annee derniere a Yerevan. Nous avons eu la delegation de Canada, bien sur, mais egalement de Quebec et de Nouveau Brunswick, parce que nous avons trois gouvernements membres de La Francophonie. Une Canadienne exceptionelle, Mme Michaëlle Jean, l’ancienne gouvernmeur general du Canada et la secretaire general d’Organisation de La Francophonie.

Pour nous l’organisation est tellement important de maintenir les relations avec tous les governments membres de La Francophonie. Pour le Canada et l’Armenie c’est un autre facon de travailler ensemble dans un contexte multilateral. Alors j’aimerais feliciter le Gouvernement d’Armenie d’avoir organise une conference ministerielle ici a Yerevan au niveau exceptionelle. C’etait pour nous un grand plaisir a faire, avec notres trois delegations, des projets ensemble, et un autre facon de maintenir et ameliorer les notres relations bilaterales.

Dans le mois de Mars, pour la semaine de Francophonie ici a Yerevan, nous aurons l’occasion de presenter le film franco-canadien et, bien sur, les autres choses de culture quebecois et franco canadienne, de demonstrer nos relations exceptionelles pas  seulement en anglais mais egalement en francais.

What is the role of La Francophonie in the bilateral relations of Armenia and Canada?

I’d love to tell you that, for Canada, it was a pleasure to give support to Armenia to help it become a member state.  It’s a great pleasure to collaborate with Armenia within La Francophonie, to have participated in the ministerial conference of the organization last October in Yerevan. We’ve had a delegation of Canada, of course, but also those of Quebec and New Brunswick, because we have three member governments in La Francophonie. An exceptional Canadian, Ms Michaëlle Jean, the former Governor General of Canada, is the current Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie.

For us, the organization is very important to maintain relations with all its member governments. For Canada and Armenia, that’s another way to work together in a multilateral context. And I’d like to congratulate the Government of Armenia for having organized the ministerial conference here in Yerevan at an exceptional level.

In March, under the week of La Francophonie in Yerevan, we will have an occasion to present a French Canadian film, and, of course, other elements of the Quebecois and generally French Canadian culture, to demonstrate our exceptional relations not only in the dimension of English, but also of French).