Full Transcript: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Speech to Israel’s Knesset
The following is the full transcript of remarks made by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Israel’s Knesset on January 20th, 2014.
“Shalom.
“And thank you for inviting me to visit this remarkable country, and especially for this opportunity to address the Knesset.
“It is truly a great honour.
“And if I may, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my wife Laureen and the entire Canadian delegation, let me begin by thanking the government and people of Israel for the warmth of your hospitality.
“You have made us feel extremely welcome.
“We have felt immediately at home.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Canada and Israel are the greatest of friends, and the most natural of allies.
“And, with your indulgence, I would like to offer a reflection upon what makes the relationship between Canada and Israel special and important because the relationship between us is very strong.
“The friendship between us is rooted in history, nourished by shared values, and it is intentionally reinforced at the highest levels of commerce and government as an outward expression of strongly held inner convictions.
“There has, for example, been a free trade agreement in place between Canada and Israel for many years an agreement that has already proved its worth.
“The elimination of tariffs on industrial products, and some foodstuffs, has led to a doubling in the value of trade between our countries.
“But this only scratches the surface of the economic potential of this relationship and I look forward to soon deepening and broadening our mutual trade and investment goals.
“As well, our military establishments share information and technology.
“This has also been to our mutual benefit.
