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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 10, 2006 <i>(7:45 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 132</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF CIVILIANS IN SRI LANKA</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, today condemned the shelling of civilians in a camp for
internally displaced persons near the town of Vakarai in eastern Sri Lanka on
November 8, 2006.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“This incident demonstrates once again the heavy price paid by civilians caught in this
long-standing conflict,” said Minister MacKay. “Canada urges both sides to immediately
cease hostilities and return to negotiations.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Government of Canada continues to believe that there can be no military solution
to this lengthy conflict. The targeting of non-combatants is never acceptable and is a
clear violation of international humanitarian law. Canada calls on all parties to the
conflict in Sri Lanka to strictly adhere to their obligations under international
humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and the facilitation of safe and
unhindered access for humanitarian agencies to reach civilians in need.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> - 30 -</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221104324/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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