The transcript of the 'end of year' CBC interview of PM Harper by Peter Mansbridge.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper sat down for a wide-ranging interview with CBC News chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge on Wednesday.
Here is the full transcript:
PETER MANSBRIDGE: SO PRIME MINISTER, IT’S UNUSUAL, THAT YOU START A YEAR END INTERVIEW AND BREAKING NEWS HAPPENS BUT HERE WE ARE WITH IT HAPPENING AND CANADA PLAYING A ROLE OF SOME DEGREE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CUBA ON GETTING PRELIMINARY TALKS GOING FOR, FOR RESTORING RELATIONSHIP. WHAT WAS CANADA’S ROLE?
STEPHEN HARPER: Well look Peter, I tell people I don’t want to exaggerate Canada’s role. We facilitated places where the two countries could have a dialogue and explore ways of normalizing the relationship and that’s what we did and we think it’s a good development, probably an overdue development. I personally believe changes are coming in Cuba and this will facilitate those. But look, I’m pleased that the president acknowledged our role in this.
WELL YOU’RE SAYING WE JUST SORT OF SUPPLIED THE ROOMS WHERE THEY SAT AND TALKED, WE WEREN’T IN THE TALKS?
No, no, we were not, we were not trying in any way to direct or mediate the talks. We were just trying to make sure that they had the opportunity to have the kind of dialogue they needed to have.
all here with the video:
Full text of Peter Mansbridge's interview with Stephen Harper - Politics - CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper sat down for a wide-ranging interview with CBC News chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge on Wednesday.
Here is the full transcript:
PETER MANSBRIDGE: SO PRIME MINISTER, IT’S UNUSUAL, THAT YOU START A YEAR END INTERVIEW AND BREAKING NEWS HAPPENS BUT HERE WE ARE WITH IT HAPPENING AND CANADA PLAYING A ROLE OF SOME DEGREE BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CUBA ON GETTING PRELIMINARY TALKS GOING FOR, FOR RESTORING RELATIONSHIP. WHAT WAS CANADA’S ROLE?
STEPHEN HARPER: Well look Peter, I tell people I don’t want to exaggerate Canada’s role. We facilitated places where the two countries could have a dialogue and explore ways of normalizing the relationship and that’s what we did and we think it’s a good development, probably an overdue development. I personally believe changes are coming in Cuba and this will facilitate those. But look, I’m pleased that the president acknowledged our role in this.
WELL YOU’RE SAYING WE JUST SORT OF SUPPLIED THE ROOMS WHERE THEY SAT AND TALKED, WE WEREN’T IN THE TALKS?
No, no, we were not, we were not trying in any way to direct or mediate the talks. We were just trying to make sure that they had the opportunity to have the kind of dialogue they needed to have.
all here with the video:
Full text of Peter Mansbridge's interview with Stephen Harper - Politics - CBC News