NEWS RELEASES

May 26, 2000 (6:45 p.m. EDT) No. 124

CANADA DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT PERU ELECTION PROCESS

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) David Kilgour today expressed strong concern over the decision by Peru's electoral authorities to proceed with elections on May 28 despite serious irregularities in the electoral process. Mr. Axworthy and Mr. Kilgour also expressed support for the decision by the Organization of American States (OAS) to withdraw its electoral observation mission from Peru.

"Well before the first ballot of April 9, the OAS mission spoke out against serious and ongoing irregularities in the electoral process," said Minister Axworthy. "These irregularities have not been corrected. It is not possible for the OAS to verify the legitimacy of the elections under these conditions."

Mr. Axworthy asked Canada's Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Peter Boehm, to address the OAS Permanent Council today on developments in Peru. Mr. Boehm told the Council that Canada deeply regretted that Peru's electoral process fell short of the standards expected by the international community, and that the withdrawal of the OAS observer mission needed to be brought to the attention of the Permanent Council.

"We put this issue today before the Permanent Council of the OAS," said Minister Axworthy. "There is a clear need for the OAS to strengthen its capacity to reinforce democracy in the hemisphere. We are consulting with our partners in the hemisphere to assess the implications of this situation for democracy in the Americas, and will be addressing this at the OAS General Assembly in Windsor in early June."

"Democracy in the hemisphere is of utmost importance to Canada," said Mr. Kilgour. "We have called in the Peruvian ambassador to Canada to express our deep concerns over the election process and to review the situation."

Canada contributed $45 000 to the OAS mission for the first ballot and an additional $75 700 for the second ballot. The Canadian Embassy in Lima also provided technical support to the OAS mission.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Tasha Stefanis

Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)

(613) 944-2162

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874