Host: Hello again I’m Anna Maria Tremonte and you are listening to The Current. Governor General Adrienne Clarkson received some fresh credentials last week from the latest member of Ottawa’s diplomatic ranks – Mr. Ziad Iraq’s new Ambassador to Canada. But Mr. Ziad won’t have much time to gently ease into his new job. Iraqi elections are only a month away, so getting his diplomatic toes wet is not really an option. Mr. Ziad will have to throw himself right into the water, if he hopes to convince Ottawa to play a significant role in helping Iraq head towards democracy.

THE ONCE unimaginable is happening in Afghanistan. The country's first-ever elected president will be sworn into office today, and the democratic process, started three years ago after the fall of the Taliban and ouster of al-Qaida, reaches yet another milestone. Nonetheless, it is accompanied by new challenges.