Foreign Minister John Baird reiterated Tuesday that diplomatic efforts are ongoing as government officials at the âhighest levelsâ work to secure the release of two Canadians who have been detained in Egyptian jail since August.
Speaking with reporters during a joint press conference in Ottawa Tuesday with Somaliaâs deputy prime minister, Baird said the government, at Prime Minister Stephen Harperâs direction, has âengaged in a big wayâ to attempt to release John Greyson and Tarek Loubani as they remain imprisoned in Egypt following their arrest on Aug. 16.
Greyson, a Toronto filmmaker, and Loubani, a doctor from London, Ont., have been held without charge since their arrest during a violent protest in Cairo. The pair was passing through Egypt while en route to Gaza.
On Sunday, the pair was ordered detained for at least another 45 days.
Baird said the government reacted âas strongly as possibleâ following the decision to extend their incarceration and will be watching very closely to actions being taken in the coming days.
âI donât want to up the rhetoric that would impede their expeditious release, I can just say weâre having strong discussions with the Egyptian authorities on this,â he said.
Baird said he spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy twice last week, which included a lengthy meeting on Friday.
âI didnât see any light at the end of the tunnel, the meeting we had Friday evening was productive and weâre working to follow through on that,â he said.
He said he also spoke with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne Monday about the detainees.
âI just want to assure that the Canadian government is doing everything it can to secure the release and letâs hope these efforts meet with success,â Baird said.
Greyson and Loubani have been on a hunger strike to protest their imprisonment and poor treatment in jail.