Glad to see that journalists the world over are living up to their usual lofty standards:
On a trade mission to Brazil this week, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper reportedly engaged in some undiplomatic behavior, according to a report in Brazilian newspaper Folha.Though diplomats in both countries denied the report, the article started conversations across North and South America.
Folha reported that Brazilian president Dilma Rouseff asked official speeches and toasts to take place after a lunch with Harper Monday. Harper, however, reportedly had a different idea. He wanted the speeches to happen before lunch, and Folha says he locked himself in the private bathroom of the foreign affairs minister until he got his way.
Harper's officials denied the report, calling it “ridiculous tabloid journalism.”
The original article, through Google's rather fractured translation:
The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, has caused constraints in Brazilian diplomacy on Monday, demanding a change in the ceremony and only go to the salon for lunch with the President after Rousseff met.The speeches and toasts are common in this type of event can be both before and after lunch. Dilma prefers it that later, but Harper made sure they were done before the guests start eating at the meeting yesterday. He did not explain why.
He had already angered aides and diplomats at the presidential palace, telling reporters that Canadians speak there, breaking the rule that such interviews always occur in the Foreign Ministry.
As the Brazilian side denied the request, Harper has reached the Foreign Ministry, for lunch, showing bad temper and demanding the reversal of the freebies. Then locked himself in a private Minister Antonio Patriota, while waiting for an answer.
Stunned, Brazilian diplomats did not know what to do if you meet a desire of the Brazilian President or surrendered to the whim of the Canadian visitors.
Only when we have confirmed that he would be met is that Harper went to Brasilia room where the banquet took place, with palm heart salad, guinea hen and "pineapple delight". Toasts are made with wines.
Although the Canadian Embassy to say surprised by this release, confirmed the story with Sheet diplomats who were at lunch and in solidarity with the grief of the ceremonial colleagues to resolve the impasse.
The lunch was scheduled for 13h, and the agenda of the next president was the possession of former Foreign Minister Celso Amorim as new defense minister, who was back in the highlands.
Yep. These ladies have got a bright, bright future with the CBC.