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OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is not willing to compromise Canadian values and principles just to get the country a seat at the UN Security Council.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Trudeau insisted that landing the seat was not so much a “goal” but rather a way to “continue having a positive impact in the world.”

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“If we have to compromise our values and principles to get the seat, it loses its usefulness,” he said.

Trudeau also said Canada’s abstention from a UN vote on U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was about staying above “political games” aimed at isolating Israel.

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“We are less interested in grousing and playing politics,” he said. “We are more interested in finding solutions and moving forward at a substantial level. And that’s why we make the choices we make in terms of voting.”

Trudeau said UN member countries regularly file resolutions targeting Israel for political purposes.