NEWS RELEASES
GRAHAM CALLS ON SYRIA TO INVESTIGATE TREATMENT OF DETAINED CANADIANS
November 4, 2003 (4:05 p.m. EST) No. 169
GRAHAM CALLS ON SYRIA TO INVESTIGATE TREATMENT OF DETAINED CANADIANS
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today issued this statement following his November 4 meeting with the Syrian
Ambassador to Canada:
"I am deeply disturbed by Mr. Arar's account of his treatment while in detention in Syria. I have called upon the Syrian
government to take these allegations of torture seriously and to act quickly to investigate all of the details of Mr. Arar's
detention, as well as those of other Canadians being held in Syria.
"Conditions of the kind described by Mr. Arar are profoundly shocking to all Canadians. Canada will continue to work,
through all of the means at its disposal, to ensure that Canadians are not subjected to this kind of unlawful and inhumane
treatment."
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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
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