Canadian foreign affair's response re my letter to the PM

Dear Mr. Anari:

Thank you for your email of August 5, 2009, expressing further concerns about the situation in Iran following the Presidential election of June 12, 2009. I regret the delay in replying.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was inaugurated for a second term, with confirmation by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on August 3, 2009, and the oath of office in Parliament on August 5. There were no

Canadian representatives at either ceremony. I also wish to clarify that Canada recognizes states, not governments.

While Canada has serious concerns about human rights in Iran, it would not support the expulsion of Iran from the United Nations (UN). The UN is the world body for all states, even ones who demonstrate a lack of

respect for its principles. Further, the UN offers a necessary and important forum where we can engage states like Iran and attempt to influence their behaviour.

This being said, on September 23, 2009, I led the Canadian delegation in walking out of UN General Assembly as President Ahmadinejad was delivering his speech. This action was to protest his past statements against Israel and his continual denial of the Holocaust as well as Iran's disregard for human rights.

You may also be interested to know that Canadian relations with Iran are governed by the Controlled Engagement Policy, which places strict limitations on contacts with Iran. For instance, Iran is not permitted to open consulates in Canada, there are no direct air links to Canada, and export controls are applied on sensitive goods. This policy reflects the Government of Canada's concerns about the Iranian government's opposition to the Middle East peace process, its support of terrorist organizations, its nuclear program and its human rights record. Under this policy, Canada limits engagement with the Iranian government to four issues: the case of murdered Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi and other consular cases, human rights, its nuclear program and regional security concerns. All programs of cooperation with the Iranian government have been halted.

Thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

A vivid memory...

I remember it well. Vividly. It was in the afternoon and the sun was hot. I was in Tehran and aged about 7 years. My dad was alive only but for another year. I was playing like most boys do but I stopped and noticed that I could see my reflection on the shiny rim of my dad's car and thought to myself wow this could be a show, a well played but poorly planned an endless movie. I stared directly at my reflection and said these exact words: "Hi, this was my life so far, watch the rest as it unfolds".

Ever since then I would stop once in a while and stare at my reflection and reflect on my past life and say those exact words. I have never imagined that this would carry out to this day but it has become a tradition of mine. I was right it has been one roller coaster of life. The highs speak for themselves and the lows are only worth it and endurable in anticipation of a possible high... Hi. This was my life so far...

AA

Another night...

Sleeping yet another night alone on Saba. 71 days left... In the darkness of my room with the curtains shut and the lights off and the dog is somewhere hiding asleep, I try to close my eyes. To put the day's events behind me.

Yes I have learned a lot about medicine in the past 16 months but I learned a lot more about people in general. Never have I seen the side of people and their capabilities to manipulate, use, disrespect and hurt you while at the same time I have felt the tender love of some. I have learned a lot but I wish so desperately to learn how to avoid, how to ignore and how to not get hurt.

I want to promise to myself tonight that when I open my eyes tomorrow I shall stop being nice to everyone. Smile only to those who actually deserve to be cherished. Respect only those worthy and those who reciprocate.

I want to try but I must.

AA

This week in history

So this week we had our first block exam of second year of medical school. Guess what? I had the worst grades in Pathology and Pharmacology that I have ever had in my entire carrier as a student. So obviously I'm having a hard time dealing with this new low and so when I go to bed I have nightmares and when I am awake I have hallucinations.

I just want to share a story what happened tonight which was quite scary at the time. Basically what happened was I was online and suddenly my computer started playing music on its own and I had no idea how it did that so I looked at iTunes and I stopped it. It started playing again so I got a little freaked out and I stopped it again and this time I shut the windows and pulled the curtains because it was dark and I was thinking that there might be ghosts around :) so then again it started playing a song and I got so scared that I quite iTunes application but that seemed not at all helpful and I heard the song again. I was so scared at this point that I called a friend almost in panic. Then I realized that I had opened a webpage that apparently had music in the background and that since the internet is quite slow here it kept on turning on and off on its own and the mystery was solved and I decided it is time for me to get some rest.

AA

Life is a draw!

In a sense we are all artists in this world. Drawing and acting…


I woke up again one and a half in the morning; the time seems to be incomplete too. I look out my window and I see nothing but darkness. I see you up there; I see that no matter what, you shine. You might be alone but you still shine bright through the thickness of those clouds that come between us. You’re one determined star. I drew one day and my luck brought me here. From here I can see you a lot clearer, I studied you better from this small rock in the ocean but I am much further away from you than I have ever been. I’m so high up on this mountain yet my wings are weak and I cannot fly, I
cannot fly...

You shine brighter or is the night getting darker or there might be clouds again… Whatever it is, you are gone from my sight… what have they against us or what have you? There aren’t always answers for everything, is there. I look up and you’re gone. Good… Now all I see is darkness. Absolute darkness. But nothing is absolute.

Those clouds are gone and there you are shining yet again but this time you’re not the only one up there… I smile.... The time is now complete; it’s two in the morning ;-)

The only constant in this world is change!

AA

Eyes from heaven...

It's 2 am and I've been up since 3 am. I have seen it all and thought of whatever crossed my mind. I shoveled my head from my notes, drove around the Island of rock and cuddled with a dog that is my soulmate. It has been weeks but it has been months that I have had this feeling.I walked to my window and saw the Ocean. Wide open. I look up and I see the clear night sky with sparkling eyes looking down. I heard nothing but the sound of the wind kindly running her gracious fingers in between the gorgeous hair of the palm tree that sits right outside my window. Could it be? Is life is beautiful once again? My battery is low but my energy has just renewed. Tonight something amazing happened. I decided that my future should not be decided by my past.

I think I have found the beginning of a new trail. I dare to look forward without looking back. I dare to smile...

AA

Fire!

Only us! Only we can start a fire. Only we can reverse a good for our joy. Fire used to be a good thing, allowing a jungle to be born again... until man learned its secret! To this day we burn others to ignite joy in ourselves. We lit fire to satisfy our hunger. We lit candles to satisfy our senses. We lit fire to satisfy our powerlessness. We lit fire to run away. We lit fire to burn... We let our failures ignite onto others rather than igniting from within to burn our failures! We can learn from a jungle that burns to be born again... We can too... Life's purpose is not to survive but to thrive!

It is Saturday night and I have 3 exams on Monday. Two weekends has passed and rain has been hitting hard on my windows. It seems quite interesting that some of these rain drops are destined to fall on the Ocean barley escaping Island life while some are crying down my window.

Tomorrow will be sunny again. It has always been that way. The calm after a storm. Remember that fire... It seems as though it is burning and I know that I will be born again soon. Stronger!

AA