NEWS RELEASES
January 23, 2004 (1:30 p.m. EST)
No. 9
CANADA WELCOMES INAUGURATION OF KOFI ANNAN
INTERNATIONAL PEACEKEEPING TRAINING CENTRE
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and International Cooperation Minister
Aileen Carroll today welcomed the formal inauguration on Saturday, January 24 of the
Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana. Last year,
Canada provided a $3 million contribution to this training centre through the
Canada-West Africa Peace Security Initiative, which is one component of the Canada
Fund for Africa, established to fulfill commitments made at the G8 meeting in
Kananaskis in 2002.
"The Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre is set to become an important centre of
excellence for enhancing Africa's capacity to manage conflicts in the region," said
Minister Graham. "As a recognized leader in peace support operations, Canada is
pleased to support the centre in its early efforts to develop its programs and provide
training to civilian and military personnel from West Africa who will participate in
complex peace support operations in Africa and elsewhere."
"Peace, stability and good governance are integral building blocks for sustainable
development--development that addresses social, economic and environmental
security," said Minister Carroll. "The opening of the Kofi Annan International
Peacekeeping Training Centre emphasizes the commitment of African countries to
work together, and with the international community, for peace and prosperity on the
continent."
The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre has been engaged by Canada to partner with the
Kofi Annan Centre in its inaugural stages to help develop the curriculum and train a
pool of African instructors. The courses offered at the Kofi Annan Centre will help
African military and civilian personnel acquire essential skills needed for complex peace
support operations today, including logistical planning, the design and implementation
of programs to demobilize, disarm and reintegrate combatants, and the management of
humanitarian assistance. The role of gender in peace support will be integrated into the
training programs.
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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
Andrew Graham
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for International Cooperation
(819) 953-3160
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency
(819) 953-6534
info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
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