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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">April 5, 2005 <i>(11:30 a.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 59</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA WELCOMES SYRIAN DECISION TO WITHDRAW FROM
LEBANON AND SUPPORTS INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO HARIRI
ASSASSINATION</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today made the following statement welcoming
Syria’s decision to withdraw its military and intelligence personnel from Lebanon by
April 30, 2005. Mr. Pettigrew also offered his support for an international independent
commission to assist Lebanese authorities in investigating the assassination of former
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri: </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I welcome Syria’s decision on April 3 to withdraw the remainder of its troops and
intelligence personnel from Lebanon by April 30 and to accept a United Nations team to
verify the withdrawal. The UN Special Envoy has indicated that Syria will thereby be in
compliance with its obligations under the Taif Accords and UN Security Council
Resolution 1559.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The report of the UN fact-finding mission on the assassination of the former Prime
Minister, made public on March 24, 2005, raises troubling issues about the Lebanese
investigation of Mr. Hariri’s assassination. It also calls into question Syria’s role in
destabilizing Lebanon’s political climate. An impartial inquiry into the bombing, under
UN auspices, is essential to identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“A free and open political dialogue among all Lebanese parties is crucial to a peaceful,
stable Lebanon and to the success of the forthcoming parliamentary elections,
scheduled for May 2005. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I also wish to voice my concern about, and condemnation of, the recent escalation of
violence in and near Beirut. Such tactics are a clear attempt to intimidate the public and
suppress the growing calls for greater democratic reform and freedom from foreign
interference. We urge all parties to respect the aspirations of the Lebanese people for
democracy and the rule of law.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221154526/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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