Iran: Canada acted contrary to diplomatic norms

December 5, 2007 - 0:0

TEHRAN -- Canadian Foreign Ministry actions have not been in line with the usual procedure of the exchange of ambassadors, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said here on Tuesday.

Iran has yet to receive the credentials of the Canada's newly appointed ambassador to Iran John Mundy, Hosseini said in reaction to Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier's recent remarks.
He also noted that in bilateral actions, the two sides should act according to diplomatic norms and avoid unilateral actions.
The spokesperson then expressed surprise that there is no correspondence between Canadian government's words and action and that Ottawa has opted a unilateral procedure.
Iran has ordered Canada's ambassador to leave the country, the Canadian foreign minister said late Monday.
Canada and Iran have tried to come to an agreement on an exchange of ambassadors for some time.
""Unfortunately, we have as yet been unable to accept the candidates Tehran has submitted,"" Bernier said in a statement. ""We believe that the expulsion of our ambassador is a consequence of this situation.""
Bernier said the Canadian Embassy in Iran now will be headed by the charge d'affaires, the No. 2 diplomat. Both countries will continue to maintain embassies in the respective capitals and conduct normal operations, the release said