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Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the appointment of Cooter as Canada’s new High Commissioner to India signals Canada’s step-by-step approach to deepening ties with India.
Christopher Cooter, a veteran diplomat with 35 years of experience, takes charge as Canada’s new High Commissioner to India. (IMAGE: X/@TS10221)
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Thursday named Christopher Cooter as the new High Commissioner for Canada in India. Cameron MacKay was Cooter’s predecessor.
A handout by the Canadian foreign ministry said that Cooter’s appointment came following commitments made by Prime Ministers Mark Carney and Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit to appoint high commissioners to each other’s nations.
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It should also be noted that India also appointed veteran diplomat Dinesh K Patnaik as a high commissioner to Canada. Patnaik earlier served as deputy envoy to the UK and is a career diplomat who has served in missions in Russia, Myanmar and the United Nations (UN).
The appointments mark a slight thaw in the frosty ties in the relations between Ottawa and New Delhi after Ottawa failed to take action against separatist elements operating out of its soil in anti-India interests and accused India of orchestrating the murder of a Canadian citizen who was involved the Khalistani separatist movement and also had links to terror and illegal drugs and arms trade.
Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau had accused India of orchestrating the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey.
“The appointment of a new High Commissioner reflects Canada’s step-by-step approach to deepening diplomatic engagement and advancing bilateral cooperation with India. This appointment is an important development toward restoring services for Canadians while strengthening the bilateral relationship to support Canada’s economy,” Anita Anand said.
“The appointments are an important step towards restoring necessary diplomatic services to citizens and businesses in both countries,” she further added.
The Canadian government handout said that Cooter has thirty-five years of diplomatic experience, having served most recently as Canada’s Chargé d’affaires to Israel and as Canada’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Mauritius and Madagascar. It pointed out that he also served as First Secretary in the Canadian High Commission to India, Nepal and Bhutan, in New Delhi, from 1998 to 2000.
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
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