The man who headed up Yemen’s embassy in Canada has been at the heart of a complicated story unfolding in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, in recent weeks.
Khaled Bahah was released this week from house arrest, after having resigned as Yemen’s prime minister in January when Houthi rebels captured the presidential palace.
Gabi MacKenzie, Bahah’s former assistant at the embassy, said Bahah had been spending time working in his garden while under house arrest, and shared a photo of the former ambassador sporting a T-shirt and digging in the dirt.
Yemen press reported this week that Bahah left Sanaa after his release and it was unclear where he was headed, though MacKenzie confirmed he was still in Yemen Tuesday.
Bahah has stated he has no intention of resuming his post as prime minister. On his Facebook page, he characterized his release as “a goodwill gesture.” Also released from house arrest were his cabinet ministers.
Mohammad Bafadhel, Bahah’s spokesman, told the Yemen Times the former ambassador will soon be travelling to North America to join his young family who remain on this continent. The same article stated that Bahah had “endured repeated violations of his privacy” during the two-month house arrest and said his release “might be conditional on his leaving the country.”
Bahah has been a prominent figure in Yemen and is known as a man of honour who rails against corruption. He was oil minister under long-time president Ali Abdullah Saleh, but, while in Canada, demanded his former leader’s resignation to avoid further bloodshed during Arab Spring uprisings. Saleh’s successor, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, named Bahah, who was then ambassador to the UN, prime minister last October after Houthis seized the capital.
China on human rights
Asked why the human rights dialogue between China and Canada ended, Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui responded cryptically, saying human rights issues are not a sensitive topic in China and that his country has bilateral dialogue with many partners. The question related to a letter Luo sent to a House of Commons committee, suggesting it take back an invitation to hear from Martin Lee, leader of Hong Kong’s democracy movement.
“On the Canadian side, we knew that the media and parliament would pay some attention regarding certain cases,” he said at the University of Ottawa, where he spoke as part of the Centre for International Policy Studies’ speaker series. “We understand that. We never said that the human rights situation in China is perfect and we’ve done a lot recently to improve that.”
Milan will miss Canada
Italian Ambassador Gian Cornado expressed disappointment Canada won’t participate in World Expo 2015. When he spoke at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs’ Ambassadors speakers series, he said he hoped his country’s Expo 2015 would be as auspicious as expositions in Vancouver and Montreal.
Expo 2015 is another part of Italy’s economy relaunch, a subject he addressed at length. “It constitutes a tremendous occasion to highlight and promote Italy as a whole,” he said, adding that he promoted Milan’s 2008 bid against a strong competitor — Izmir, Turkey.
“Of course we would have liked to have had Canada participating,” he said. “But we understand that financial restraints oblige the government of Canada not to accept our invitation. This said, nothing prevents key players, investors, entrepreneurs to come and visit Milan and bring Canada there. Canada is in all of you.”
Norwegian nosh
The embassy of Norway is teaming up with Santé Restaurant to present an evening of Norwegian culture and cuisine, featuring Norwegian embassy chef Alex McKercher and Canadian soprano Stephanie Piercey Beames. The event takes place March 24 at 6 p.m. at Santé Restaurant, 45 Rideau St., 2nd floor. Tickets cost $55. RSVP to 613-241-7113.
Jennifer Campbell is editor of Diplomat & International Canada. Reach her at editor@diplomatonline.com.
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The embassy of Slovenia hosted a reception at the Ottawa Library titled EYE.Thought.Hand, by Joze Domjan, one of the leading Slovenian poster designers, on March 4. Another exhibit, Visual Identity of Slovenia—Design for a State, featuring Slovenian graphic designer Miljenko Licul, runs at the same. Both are open until the end of March. From left: Slovenian Ambassador Marjam Cencen, library manager Tony Westenbroek, EU Ambassador Marie Anne Coninsx and Turkish Ambassador Selcul Unal.
Indonesia will open the doors to its embassy in Ottawa once a month in 2015. This event took place on Feb. 18. From left: Fientje M. Suebu, Sylistya Widayanta, David Fairchild, Maria Yulli and Suwartini Wirta.
U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife, Vicki Heyman, hosted a reception at their residence to launch an exhibit of contemporary American art presented by Art in Embassies on Feb. 27. From left: Lianne Laing of CTV Morning Live, Vicki Heyman.
On the occasion of the departure from Canada, Japanese Ambassador Norihiro Okuda and his wife, Keiko, hosted a reception on March 12 at the Fairmont Château Laurier.
Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui spoke on March 9 at the University of Ottawa’s Centre for International Policy Studies.
Bruce Linghu, representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, helped paint the eyes of a ram, an auspicious symbol in Chinese brush painting, at Taiwan Night, March 10.
From left: Bruce Linghu; National Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay; Alice Wong, minister of state for seniors; MP John Weston, chair of Canada-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group; John Duncan, minister of state and chief government whip; artist Chao Hong Tan, who created the Year of the Ram painting.
Israeli Ambassador Rafael Barak voted at his embassy prior to the March 17 Israeli election.
On Estonia’s 97th Independence Day on Feb. 24, the embassy partnered with Santé Restaurant to present Tastes of Estonia, an evening of Estonian Culture and Cuisine with special chef Paul Lillakas and pianist Armas Maiste. Ambassador Gita Kalmet toasted Estonia with Vana Tallinn, a famous Estonian liqueur.
Norwegian Ambassador Mona Elizabeth Brother hosted a concert and dinner for Friends of the NAC Orchestra’s Music to Dine For event on Feb. 25 at her residence. From left: Emerald String Quartet musicians Ethan Balakrishnan (viola), Jerry Wang (violin), Alisa Klebanov (violin), Ambassador Brother and Emma Grant-Zypchen (cello).
Dominican Republic Ambassador Hector Virgilio Alcantara Mejia and his wife, Eunice Brigida Lluberes De Alcantara, hosted a national day event Feb. 27 at Ottawa City Hall.
Mohammed Saif Helal M. Alshehhi, ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, hosted a luncheon March 5 to mark the achievements of women in the Arab world. From left, Leila Gouchi, artist and songwriter, and Malika El kaoukabi, sales representative, Royal Air Maroc from Montreal, in Moroccan national dress.