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CANADA WELCOMES SIGNATURE OF INDONESIAN PEACE AGREEMENT AND PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION

December 9, 2002 (1:15 p.m. EST) No. 168

CANADA WELCOMES SIGNATURE OF INDONESIAN PEACE AGREEMENT AND PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and International Cooperation Minister Susan Whelan today welcomed the signing of the Aceh Cessation of Hostilities Agreement by the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).The ministers also pledged $500,000 toward the implementation of the Agreement.

The signing, which took place today in Geneva, followed an international meeting held in Tokyo on December 3, at which donor countries and funding agencies expressed support for the peace initiative. Participants also agreed to send a team to assess the post-conflict reconstruction needs of the Indonesian province.

Fighting between the separatist GAM and Indonesian security forces has resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 people since 1976, mostly civilians.

"Canada has long been a vocal proponent of a negotiated and peaceful political resolution to this conflict that has spanned decades and cost thousands of lives," said Mr. Graham. "We strongly support this important first step in ensuring a lasting peace in Aceh and urge both sides to respect and fully implement the Agreement."

The peace agreement calls for an immediate cease-fire, 150 international monitors to oversee peace zones, and free elections by 2004 to set up an autonomous government in Aceh. The Agreement also calls on the rebels to put their arms in storage and on the Indonesian government to cease its military offensive.

"Canada's support for the peaceful resolution of this conflict demonstrates our commitment to global security and sustainable development," Minister Whelan said. "Without external support to promote consensus in societies dealing with conflict, the situation can often remain volatile. Canadian International Development Agency funds will support the peacebuilding process in Aceh by contributing to international monitoring of the cease-fire and by demonstrating the benefits of peace to all."

Both ministers also applauded the important role that the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Swiss-based mediator, played in the negotiations, and they reiterated Canada's commitment to further supporting the peace process and promoting peace and stability in Indonesia.

Today's pledge is in addition to the $700,000 that Canada has already disbursed in support of development and peacebuilding initiatives in Aceh over the past two years.

Funding for this initiative was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Isabelle Savard

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Valérie Poulin