NEWS RELEASES

December 22, 2004 (4:30 p.m. EST)
No. 156

MINISTER PETTIGREW ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF NORTH KOREANS FROM CANADIAN EMBASSY IN BEIJING

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement after the departure of North Korean refugees from the Canadian Embassy in Beijing, China:

“I want to express my appreciation to Ambassador Joseph Caron and the staff of the Embassy in Beijing. Their skill, dedication and heroic efforts in managing what was a very complex situation are in the finest tradition of our Foreign Service.

“I would also like to thank the Chinese government for working with us to resolve this issue in a way that is consistent with our international obligations and in keeping with our humanitarian concerns.”

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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
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