NEWS RELEASES
OUELLET ANNOUNCES OBSERVER MISSION TO FIRST ELECTIONS TO THE PALESTINIAN COUNCIL
January 17, 1996 No. 6
OUELLET ANNOUNCES OBSERVER MISSION TO FIRST ELECTIONS
TO THE PALESTINIAN COUNCIL
Foreign Affairs Minister André Ouellet today announced that Canada is sending an
11-member Observer Mission to the first elections to the Palestinian Council, to
be held on January 20.
"These elections are a key element of the Middle East Peace Process and constitute
an important step in the development of democracy for the Palestinians in the West
Bank and Gaza. An international presence during the vote will contribute to
achieving a free and fair result which, in turn, will enhance the long-term
political stability of the region," said Mr. Ouellet.
Mr. Ouellet added that this mission reflects the priority Canada attaches to
international democratic development. It is part of a broader program of
technical support for the electoral process in the West Bank and Gaza.
Along with Canada, ten countries and five international organizations were invited
under the interim Israeli-Palestinian agreement of September 28, 1995, to observe
the elections. These are: Cyprus, Egypt, Japan, Jordan, Norway, Russia, South
Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, the United States; and the European Union (EU),
the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement, the
Organization of African Unity and the United Nations. The EU has agreed to co-ordinate the work of the international observers.
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A list of the members of the Canadian Observer Mission is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
OFFICIAL MEMBERS THE CANADIAN OBSERVER MISSION
Ms. Colleen Beaumier, M.P.
Ms. Shaughnessy Cohen, M.P.
Ms. Suehila Elkateb, consultant
Mr. Shawky Fahel, businessman
Mr. Roger Gallaway, M.P.
Mr. Ovid Jackson, M.P.
Dr. Bahgat Korany, professor
Mr. Michael Lynk, lawyer
Ms. Carrol Parrish, M.P.
Ms. Barbara Shenstone, NGO
Mr. Michael Shenstone, former ambassador
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