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Outgoing Russian Ambassador fires parting shots at Harper

Click to play video: 'The West Block: June 22'
The West Block: June 22
The West Block: June 22 – Jun 22, 2014

 ABOVE: In his final Canadian television interview before heading home, Russian Ambassador to Canada Georgiy Mamedov offers a little advice to Stephen Harper.

OTTAWA – As Russian Ambassador to Canada Georgiy Mamedov heads back to Russia, he has some parting messages to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Over [the last] 5 of 6 years of Prime Minster Harper’s being on the job we had a very good working relationship. Now, we have a rough patch,” said Mamedov to Tom Clark on The West Block.

Harper made it clear two weeks ago in an exclusive interview with The West Block he’s not interested in repairing the relationship with Russia any time soon. He was in the minority of G7 leaders in Normandy who didn’t speak to Putin at the D-Day commemorations.

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Mamedov’s history with Harper dates back over 10 years, to when Harper was Leader of the Opposition.

Now, however, Mamedov says he and the Harper government don’t speak very often. He’d like to see his successor change that.

Mamedov’s parting advice? “Just start talking. It’s very simple.”

“I think it’s an aberration and the sooner we breach this diplomatic gap the better.”

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