NEWS RELEASES
CANADA CONDEMNS CONFRONTATIONS IN SOUTH KIVU
October 23, 1996 No. 195
CANADA CONDEMNS CONFRONTATIONS IN SOUTH KIVU
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Secretary of State (Latin America and
Africa) Christine Stewart today condemned the violent confrontations in South Kivu
-- sparked by the forced expulsion of the Banyamulenge from Eastern Zaire -- and
welcomed the initiative of the UN Secretary-General to dispatch a special envoy to
the region to defuse the tension.
"Canada is especially concerned about this situation and the ongoing instability
in the Great Lakes region," said Mr. Axworthy. "We are greatly concerned about
the fate of all Zairians, regardless of ethnic origin, and of the refugees who can
no longer count on assistance and support from humanitarian agencies, whose
personnel have been evacuated from the region because of these events."
The Banyamulenge were ordered by Zairian authorities earlier this month to leave
the country and have since been the target of armed attacks. They have begun to
retaliate against both the local people and the armed forces of Zaire, and against
the camps housing Rwandan and Burundian refugees.
"Canada is deeply troubled by the violence and ethnic discrimination rampant in
this part of Zaire," said Mrs. Stewart. "We encourage the parties involved to
exercise restraint for the sake of an immediate return to calm and dialogue. The
solution to this situation lies in settling the ongoing crisis in the Great Lakes
region, specifically the Burundian political impasse, and in repatriating the
Rwandan refugees as soon as possible."
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
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
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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