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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">December 6, 2006 <i>( </i>12:30 p.m. <i>EST)</i><br>
No. 151</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">CANADA SALUTES PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY BY CANADIANS
ABROAD</span></span></p>
<br>
<p>The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of
International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages,
today made the following statements regarding a Canadian election observer in Haiti
who was injured when he was struck in the arm by a bullet shot by an unknown
assailant on the road to Delmas in Piétonville:</p>
<br>
<p>“Canadians often put themselves in harm’s way to promote freedom, democracy,
human rights and the rule of law; I applaud their exceptional devotion to the promotion
of our values abroad,” said Minister MacKay. “I also wish a speedy recovery to
Canada’s election observer, Mr. Cheickh Bangoura, who was injured yesterday.”</p>
<br>
<p>"There are a vast number of Canadians supporting democratic development in
developing countries and their contribution towards building a better world for all is
invaluable. Mr. Cheickh Bangoura was injured by a stray bullet in Haiti yesterday. I want
to take this opportunity to acknowledge his great work and that of other Canadians like
him," said Minister Verner.</p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center">- 30 -</p>
<br>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<br>
<p>Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012446/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Canada International Development Agency<br>
819-953-6534<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012446/http://www.cida.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.cida.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
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