NEWS RELEASES
November 25, 2004 (9:45 a.m. EST) No. 138
CANADA APPLAUDS SIGNING OF
DAR ES SALAAM DECLARATION
Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew today welcomed the signing of the Dar es
Salaam Declaration on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in the Great
Lakes Region. The Declaration represents a common vision for working toward
sustainable peace in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
“We maintain our commitment to assist the countries of the International Conference on
Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in the Great Lakes Region, who are
looking for solutions to break out of the cycle of violence and poverty, and to foster the
social and economic recovery of the region and its peoples,” said Minister Pettigrew.
Senator Peter Stollery represented Canada, Co-Chair of the Group of Friends of the
Great Lakes Region, at the First Summit of Heads of State and Government of the
International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The Conference took place in
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on November 19 and 20, 2004.
Established at the initiative of Canada in December 2003, the Group of 28 countries
and 10 international organizations and specialized agencies has since been co-chaired
by Canada and the Netherlands. Its mandate is to provide political, diplomatic, technical
and financial support to the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The
Group of Friends has funded the national and regional consultations involving officials
and representatives of civil society in each country of the Conference. These
consultations have culminated in the Dar es Salaam Declaration just adopted by the
regional leaders.
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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
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