Per the government announcement, The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Her Excellency (H.E.), Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al-Misnad, Minister of State for International Cooperation of the State of Qatar, on the margins of the Pathways to Peace: Second International Conference on Returning Ukrainian Children, Detained Civilians, and Prisoners of War held in Toronto on September 28 and 29, 2026. The meeting occurred on September 28, 2026. This engagement follows a similar meeting on September 28, 2026, with Honduras’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mireya Agüero, and a meeting with the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for International Cooperation and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Ukraine, and with Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Orbán. The Pathways to Peace conference, focused on returning Ukrainian children, detained civilians, and prisoners of war, convened in Toronto over two days.
Context
The statement does not mention the specific subject of the discussion between Anand and Al-Misnad. However, the meeting’s location—on the margins of a conference dedicated to Ukrainian humanitarian issues—suggests a broader diplomatic context. The Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry’s scheduling of meetings with representatives from Qatar, Honduras, the United Arab Emirates, and Hungary during this event indicates a sustained effort to maintain international engagement on key global challenges. This aligns with a pattern established in September 2026, when the ministry met with Honduras’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and with the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for International Cooperation and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Ukraine, and with Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Pathways to Peace conference served as a venue for these discussions, highlighting Canada’s ongoing commitment to multilateral cooperation on complex international issues.
What to Watch
Should the visit yield any specific outcomes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue a subsequent statement. If the meeting confirms a continued commitment to supporting efforts related to returning Ukrainian children, detained civilians, and prisoners of war, further details regarding Canadian assistance will likely be announced. The statement does not address any potential implications for Canada’s broader relationship with Qatar, a nation with significant diplomatic and economic ties across the globe. The meeting’s occurrence on the margins of the conference suggests a prioritization of engagement within a multilateral forum, rather than a focused bilateral discussion.
Sources & Further Reading
- Official press release
- Foreign ministry source
- Minister Anand meets with Honduras’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (28 Septemb)
- Minister Anand meets with United Arab Emirates’ Minister of State for International Cooperation and Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Ukraine (28 Septemb)
- Minister Anand meets with Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (28 Septemb)
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