Tweet
Embassy Magazine
Canada's Foreign Policy Newsweekly
July 12 2006
Protocol Deputy Says It's a Job He's 'Thoroughly Enjoyed'
Last Friday was Haig Sarafian's last day as the Deputy Chief of
Protocol at Foreign Affairs before he embarks to Libya to take over
as Ambassador from David Viveash. As he rushes to meet this reporter
at the reception room at the Office of Protocol at Foreign Affairs
headquarters on Sussex Drive, he warns, "I can't talk about Libya
because I am not yet there."
Mr. Sarafian may not be familiar with Libya, but after spending 15
of his 32-year diplomatic career in the Middle East, his knowledge
of the country that gave the world Muamar Gaddafi belies his initial
ignorance.
"Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa," he says. "And I
received the news [of the posting] with enthusiasm."
Mr. Sarafian was appointed ambassador to Libya last month, together
with 25 other envoys destined for a number of countries around the
world. A career diplomat, he has worked extensively on trade issues
and was director of the International Trade Centre in Montreal from
1990 to 1993. He has also served as ambassador to Lebanon and has
previously worked in missions in Lima, Baghdad, Sao Paulo, Paris,
Tunis and Damascus.
Together with his wife, Mr. Sarafian will travel to Tripoli in
September to take up his duties.
"I don't know if I would call it deja vu, but I would call it a
feeling of not going into the unknown," he says.
Relations between Canada and Libya have been on the mend since 2001
when Tripoli opened an embassy in Ottawa. In 1986, Canada and other
Western countries imposed sanctions on Libya after it was accused
of terrorism acts in Europe. But in 1999, when Libya handed over two
suspects wanted in the bombing of PanAm Flight 103 over Lockerbie in
Scotland, Canada lifted its bilateral sanctions.
"Relations with the West have improved," says Mr. Sarafian. But like
the diplomat he is, he carefully avoids the term "pariah status"
when describing the frosty relations that existed between Libya and
the West then.
One of his tasks is to improve trade ties between both countries,
mainly by increasing Canadian investment in the oil sector. But Mr.
Sarafian also hopes relations will be "multi-faceted."
As Deputy Chief of Protocol, Mr. Sarafian interacted with many
diplomats in Canada in many professional capacities. One of these
included hosting heads of missions at the Diplomatic Forum, a two-day
event where diplomats meet cabinet members, think-tanks and business
leaders.
"I leave with sadness," he says. "It was a job I thoroughly enjoyed."
Mr. Sarafian, who speaks French, English, Armenian, Arabic, Portuguese
and Spanish, says his job also allowed him to exercise his language
skills with diplomats from many countries.
"It was as close to being overseas while in Canada."
http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index .php?display=story&full_path=/2006/july/12/dc/
Canada's Foreign Policy Newsweekly
July 12 2006
Protocol Deputy Says It's a Job He's 'Thoroughly Enjoyed'
Last Friday was Haig Sarafian's last day as the Deputy Chief of
Protocol at Foreign Affairs before he embarks to Libya to take over
as Ambassador from David Viveash. As he rushes to meet this reporter
at the reception room at the Office of Protocol at Foreign Affairs
headquarters on Sussex Drive, he warns, "I can't talk about Libya
because I am not yet there."
Mr. Sarafian may not be familiar with Libya, but after spending 15
of his 32-year diplomatic career in the Middle East, his knowledge
of the country that gave the world Muamar Gaddafi belies his initial
ignorance.
"Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa," he says. "And I
received the news [of the posting] with enthusiasm."
Mr. Sarafian was appointed ambassador to Libya last month, together
with 25 other envoys destined for a number of countries around the
world. A career diplomat, he has worked extensively on trade issues
and was director of the International Trade Centre in Montreal from
1990 to 1993. He has also served as ambassador to Lebanon and has
previously worked in missions in Lima, Baghdad, Sao Paulo, Paris,
Tunis and Damascus.
Together with his wife, Mr. Sarafian will travel to Tripoli in
September to take up his duties.
"I don't know if I would call it deja vu, but I would call it a
feeling of not going into the unknown," he says.
Relations between Canada and Libya have been on the mend since 2001
when Tripoli opened an embassy in Ottawa. In 1986, Canada and other
Western countries imposed sanctions on Libya after it was accused
of terrorism acts in Europe. But in 1999, when Libya handed over two
suspects wanted in the bombing of PanAm Flight 103 over Lockerbie in
Scotland, Canada lifted its bilateral sanctions.
"Relations with the West have improved," says Mr. Sarafian. But like
the diplomat he is, he carefully avoids the term "pariah status"
when describing the frosty relations that existed between Libya and
the West then.
One of his tasks is to improve trade ties between both countries,
mainly by increasing Canadian investment in the oil sector. But Mr.
Sarafian also hopes relations will be "multi-faceted."
As Deputy Chief of Protocol, Mr. Sarafian interacted with many
diplomats in Canada in many professional capacities. One of these
included hosting heads of missions at the Diplomatic Forum, a two-day
event where diplomats meet cabinet members, think-tanks and business
leaders.
"I leave with sadness," he says. "It was a job I thoroughly enjoyed."
Mr. Sarafian, who speaks French, English, Armenian, Arabic, Portuguese
and Spanish, says his job also allowed him to exercise his language
skills with diplomats from many countries.
"It was as close to being overseas while in Canada."
http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index .php?display=story&full_path=/2006/july/12/dc/