NEWS RELEASES

June 22, 2005 (4:30 p.m. EDT)
No. 114

HAITI: MINISTER PETTIGREW PLEASED WITH UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL DECISION ON MINUSTAH RENEWAL

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement regarding the United Nations Security Council’s resolution to renew the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH):

“Canada is pleased with Resolution 1608 passed today by the Security Council, renewing the mandate of MINUSTAH and increasing its military personnel to 7,500 and the number of police officers to 1,897 until February 2006. Security is still a very serious problem in Haiti and MINUSTAH is part of the solution.

“These measures are essential to strengthening MINUSTAH’s capacity to deal with violence and to reinforcing the role of Haiti's police force. A secure environment is crucial to transparent, credible elections.

“The Montreal International Conference on Haiti, held June 16 to 17, 2005, recognized that despite the difficulties facing us, neither Canada nor the countries and organizations represented at the Conference intend to give in to intimidation attempts by those wishing to hinder the democratic process currently under way.

“At the Montreal International Conference on Haiti, we agreed that more robust measures would be implemented in response to the increase in violence.”

For further information on Canada's contribution in Haiti, please visit: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/cip-pic/library/reconstructinghaiti-en.asp.

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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