Comments about Africa aid were not meant to offend: Freeland

FacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy Link

Ottawa: Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says last week when she said for Africans that they should be ready to die for their democracy, she wad not meant to offend anyone. Instead, she said, Canada could further increase support for the continent.

Freeland said she apologizes if her comments hurt anyone. Speaking in Washington last week, Freeland urged all democratic countries to come closer to each other through trade and energy relations as the atmosphere around the world is deteriorating slightly and many countries are trying to suppress other democracies.

In the question and answer session that followed, the person working for the African Development Bank asked that the help from western countries is intended only with the intention of meeting the needs of Ukraine. The identity of this person has not been revealed.

“Western countries must come together to prove that we are truly partners,” Freeland said. But she added that it was up to African countries to choose their own path. She also denied that she would suddenly get in the way of Russia.

She further said that our democracy is protected only if the people are ready to die for their country. Such statements were objected by many intellectuals across the globe.