NEWS RELEASES

January 21, 2005 (10:40 a.m. EST)
No. 14

PETTIGREW TO TAKE PART IN COMMEMORATION OF LIBERATION OF CONCENTRATION CAMPS

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that he will deliver Canada’s statement at a special session of the United Nations General Assembly in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, to take place in New York on January 24.

“This special session will be a solemn occasion, the first of its kind in recent memory, where representatives from around the world will pause to remember this dark chapter in our history and recommit to the principles and noble ideals upon which the United Nations was founded,” said Minister Pettigrew. “As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps, we must renew our determination to build a better world and a greater United Nations to ensure such crimes never occur again.”

The special session was initially requested by Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the European Union, Russia and Israel.

Event:          Statement by Minister Pettigrew

Date:            Monday, January 24, 2005

Time:            Approximately 12:00 noon

Location:  General Assembly

                     United Nations Headquarters

                     New York, New York

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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