NEWS RELEASES
ONGOING SITUATION OF EIGHT KIDNAPPED CANADIANS PROMPTS KILGOUR VISIT TO ECUADOR AND COLOMBIA
September 22, 1999 (6:00 p.m. EDT) No. 211
ONGOING SITUATION OF EIGHT KIDNAPPED CANADIANS
PROMPTS KILGOUR VISIT TO ECUADOR AND COLOMBIA
Further to his discussions with his Ecuadorian counterpart last week, Foreign Affairs Minister
Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) David
Kilgour will travel to Quito (Ecuador) and Bogota (Colombia), September 23 to 29, to meet
with senior officials of both countries' governments and to discuss the kidnapping of eight
Canadians earlier this month in Ecuador. The eight Canadians are among a group of 12
people who were kidnapped in Sucumbios, Ecuador, a region situated close to the
Colombian border.
"The fact that the identity of the kidnappers, as well as details of the conditions under which
the hostages are being held, remain unknown, is a source of great frustration and of major
concern to Canada," said Mr. Axworthy. "I have asked Mr. Kilgour to meet with the
Ecuadorian and Colombian authorities to convey our concerns and those of the victims'
families, and to review with them the facts in the hope of finding ways to resolve the
situation."
Mr. Axworthy also announced that he will meet with the Foreign Affairs Ministers of both
countries tomorrow, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly being held in
New York City.
"Canada considers this to be an extremely important matter, and is committed to using all
possible avenues to secure the freedom of the hostages," stated Mr. Kilgour.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown Tasha Stefanis
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Office of the Secretary of State
(613) 995-1851 (Latin America and Africa)
(613) 992-9404
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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