Russian Counterpart: Russia and Canada

russian counterpart: But there were Stéphane Dion, Canada foreign affairs minister, and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, meeting Monday on the neutral ground of a Pacific nations summit in Laos for a 30-minute cover-the-waterfront talk on issues of common interests, according to Toronto Star. The under-reported incident is a breakthrough for both countries. By David Olive Business Columnist Sat., July 30, 2016 This might seem a curious time for Ottawa to make a 180-degree turn in trying to restore healthy relations with Russia. Canada has been stridently critical of the Kremlin since Russia occupation of the Crimea two years ago, and has prohibited contact between high-level officials in the two countries. To be sure, Dion reiterated to Lavrov on Monday Canada acute concern about Russia threatening gestures in Ukraine and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, and the Kremlin controversial role in the Syrian conflict. But the Trudeau government, which earned a mandate in October for its promise to strengthen ties with both Russia and China, has broken the silence. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.