NEWS RELEASES

September 24, 2004 (9:30 a.m. EDT) No. 111

MINISTER PETTIGREW TO TRAVEL TO HAITI

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that he will travel to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from September 29 to 30.

“Canada is playing a key role in the international effort to stabilize and rebuild Haiti,” said Minister Pettigrew. “While progress has been made, there is still much work to be done to establish sustainable security and rule of law in the country. Canada is committed to remaining involved in Haiti for the long term and bringing support to the residents of the country. This visit will also allow us to assess the challenges facing the Haitian people in the aftermath of the terrible floods of the past few days.”

During the two-day trip, Minister Pettigrew will hold numerous meetings with representatives of the interim Haitian government and members of Haitian political parties and civil society. Talks will cover the implementation of the two-year Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF) for the reconstruction of Haiti, presented to the international community in July 2004, and the need for a national dialogue and political reconciliation. The Minister will also meet with the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Juan Gabriel Valdes, to discuss how the mission is providing assistance to the Haitian government. Canada is contributing 100 police officers as part of MINUSTAH. Deployment began in mid-July and will be completed by the end of October 2004.

While in Haiti, Minister Pettigrew will also officially open the new location of the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

Canada is contributing more than $180 million over two years to Haiti’s reconstruction and development effort. This contribution includes a pledge of close to $147 million in support of the Government of Haiti’s ICF.

On September 22, 2004, the Government of Canada announced a contribution of $2 million in support of humanitarian and relief efforts to help the storm victims. Canada also sent emergency relief items to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, airlifted on a CC-130 Hercules transport aircraft provided by the Canadian Forces.

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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 and International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca