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CANADA CONDEMNS RECENT MASSACRES IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

April 8, 2003 (7:45 p.m. EDT) No. 36

CANADA CONDEMNS RECENT MASSACRES IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham strongly condemned the recent massacres of nearly 1,000 people in Ituri, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"The reports of a civilian massacre in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ituri province last week are simply appalling," said Minister Graham. "For the sake of preventing other atrocities against innocent civilians, I call on all parties in the region to find a solution to these conflicts through dialogue and negotiation."

"This massacre is a demonstration of the types of actions that are fuelling the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and still threatening the safety of civilians in the region," said International Cooperation Minister Susan Whelan. "This humanitarian crisis is one of the worst currently raging in Africa--a crisis that cannot be ignored."

The Canadian government renews its calls for all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law by ensuring the protection of civilians and by guaranteeing both humanitarian access to civilian populations and the safety of humanitarian personnel. Canada also urges all parties to cooperate fully with the investigation by the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) and calls for the Ituri Pacification Commission to perform its role in restoring stability to the region.

Prior to these grave events, parties to an Inter-Congolese Dialogue met in Sun City, South Africa, where they established a constitution and a transitional government. Notwithstanding these encouraging institutional developments, however, the recent massacres underline the urgency of addressing the ongoing violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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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

Renée Filiatrault

Press Secretary