The OIF is a group of 53 countries that share a common French language and heritage.

At the 11th summit meeting in Bucharest, Canada held things up a bit, while Prime Minister Steven Harper objected to the wording of a resolution put before the meeting by the Egyptians. The resolution condemned Arab suffering in Lebanon.

Harper held up a press conference while the wording was changed.

It was wrong for the OIF to express regret over the loss of Arab life, while remaining silent on Israeli casualties, the conservative party leader told a televised press conference.

Harper’s support for Israel and his refusal to accept the Arab-backed amendment to the final Bucharest Declaration prompted outrage from Lebanese delegates and nearly derailed the conference.

“We wanted to condemn the war because it was deplorable,” Lebanese Culture Minister Tarek Mitri told CBC. “Everyone agrees, except Canada.”

Harper;

“Canada believes that any resolution has to be balanced, that we should recognize the victims in both Lebanon and Israel,” Harper said.

Victims of war “must be recognized regardless of their
nationality”, he noted. “We are able to deplore the war, we are able to recognize the victims, but on both sides.”

“I think that we all want to avoid is a similar attack on Israel in the future, a similar response and a similar war,” Harper added.