NEWS RELEASES

August 15, 2006 (11:55 a.m. EDT)
No. 94

STATEMENT BY MINISTER MACKAY ON ESCALATION OF HOSTILITIES IN SRI LANKA

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, issued the following statement regarding the escalation of hostilities in Sri Lanka:

“Canada is concerned by the escalation of hostilities in Sri Lanka between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to negotiations.

“Canada believes that there can be no military solution to this lengthy conflict. Peace can only be achieved when all parties desist from violence and intimidation and seek a resolution to the conflict through negotiation. Canada continues to actively support the efforts of the co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference in support of the Sri Lankan peace process, as well as the indispensable work of the Norwegian facilitator.”

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