NEWS RELEASES

March 25, 2006 (9:00 a.m. EST)
No. 27

CANADA CONDEMNS ONGOING CONFRONTATION WITH PROTESTORS IN BELARUS

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay today issued the following statement further condemning actions by the Belarus government, including the recent arrest and detention of pro-democracy demonstrators, and announcing that Canada is considering imposing sanctions on Belarus:

“Canada calls on the Belarus government to immediately release all the demonstrators detained for exercising their democratic right to protest. We urge the government to respect the rights of the Belarusian people, including the right to demonstrate peacefully.

“Canada joined other nations in denouncing the March 19 presidential election, which was not free and fair. Yesterday’s crackdown on protestors further demonstrates the abusive nature of the Belarus regime.

“Canada is currently examining possible measures in response to these events. Such measures would be taken in concert with other free and democratic countries.”

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