NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY TO SEND SPECIAL ENVOY TO ASSESS SITUATION IN SIERRA LEONE
March 8, 1999 (3:15 p.m. EST) No. 50
AXWORTHY TO SEND SPECIAL ENVOY TO ASSESS
SITUATION IN SIERRA LEONE
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today named David Pratt, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton, special envoy for Sierra Leone.
Mr. Pratt will travel to New York on March 12 for discussions with UN and other officials on efforts to restore peace and stability in Sierra Leone.
He then plans to travel to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Conakry, Guinea, later this month to assess the political, humanitarian and security
situation in Sierra Leone.
"Canada remains concerned about the atrocities committed upon civilians, including women and children, by the rebel groups," said Mr.
Axworthy. "These visits will give Mr. Pratt the opportunity to see first-hand how Canada can best support efforts to rebuild peace and stability,
and provide humanitarian assistance in Sierra Leone. We are exploring the means for providing additional support to civilians, particularly
children."
In New York Mr. Pratt will meet with Francis Okello, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone, and with Fode M. Dabor,
Chargé d'Affaires of the Republic of Sierra Leone, as well as other official representatives. This visit is in preparation for the mission to West
Africa, which will aid Mr. Pratt in making recommendations to the Minister before Mr. Axworthy participates in the Commonwealth Ministerial
Action Group (CMAG) in London on April 29 and 30. Sierra Leone is one of the three countries under review by the CMAG, which has a mandate
to recommend collective Commonwealth responses to serious or persistent violations of the principles contained in the Harare Declaration on
human rights and democracy.
Mr. Axworthy held discussions with his counterparts concerning the conflict in Sierra Leone during his recent visit to Ghana and Nigeria. Both
countries are troop contributors to the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG). During his visit,
Mr. Axworthy announced Canada's contribution of $1 million for non-lethal support to ECOMOG troops. The UN has chosen ECOMOG as its
peacekeeping partner in the region, and has called upon member states for assistance to ECOMOG and the Government of Sierra Leone. As a
Security Council member, Canada will also support the extension of the UN Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL), which is due for
renewal later this week. In addition to monitoring human rights, UNOMSIL has a mandate to promote a political settlement to the Sierra Leone
conflict.
"We continue to support the democratically elected Government of Sierra Leone and call for an immediate cessation of the fighting," said Mr.
Axworthy. "We urge that all parties allow full and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, and fully respect international humanitarian and
human rights law."
The Minister's announcement was made on Commonwealth Day, and reflects Canada's ongoing commitment to Sierra Leone within CMAG and
at the Security Council.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
David Pratt
MP, Nepean-Carleton
(613) 992-2772
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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