NEWS RELEASES

January 20, 2005 (12:30 p.m. EST)
No.11

CANADA CALLS FOR DISBURSEMENT OF

INTERNATIONAL FUNDS FOR HAITI

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll today joined in the appeals to international donors to honour their pledges of financial assistance for Haiti. Canada’s appeal follows the UN Security Council special meeting on Haiti which was held on January 12.

“Canada supports the appeal launched last week by the Security Council and urges donors to honour the commitments they made last July at the International Donors Conference in Washington by coming through with the funds promised to Haiti,” said Minister Pettigrew. “Too often, promises are not followed by cheques. Promises must be respected; this is vital to the country’s reconstruction and the restoration of democracy. I intend to raise this issue with donor countries in the future.”

“The Government of Canada and Canadians worked quickly and in cooperation with the people of Haiti to develop a detailed framework and funding,” said Minister Carroll. “We are resolved to stand by Haiti for as long as it takes to establish security and stability in that country and foster sustainable development.”

Canada recently contributed close to $16 million through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to Haiti’s transitional government to help that country pay its arrears to the World Bank. This amount is part of a contribution of $180 million spread over two years that Canada has earmarked for aid initiatives in Haiti. Canada has also pledged $17 million to facilitate the smooth running of Haiti’s electoral process.

Funding for these initiatives was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget, and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

- 30 -

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

France Bureau

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of International Cooperation

(819) 953-6238

Media Relations Office

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

(819) 953-6534

info@acdi-cida.gc.ca

http://www.acdi.gc.ca