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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">June 1, 2005 <i>(2:25 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 100</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">PETTIGREW TO ATTEND OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew will attend the 35th Annual General Assembly
of the Organization of American States (OAS), which will take place in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, from June 5 to 7, 2005.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">While in Fort Lauderdale, Minister Pettigrew will engage in discussions with his
counterparts on the benefits of democracy, and will participate in a dialogue with
members of civil society, including Canadian non-governmental organizations. On the
margins of the General Assembly, the Minister will attend a ministerial-level meeting of
the Summit Implementation Review Group to discuss the Fourth Summit of the
Americas, which will be held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on November 4 and 5, 2005.
He will also hold a number of bilateral meetings, including with foreign ministers from
the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) and Central America.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada is a strong supporter of the OAS and the Summit of the Americas process,”
said Minister Pettigrew. “The General Assembly will provide us with an excellent
opportunity to build consensus among OAS members on hemispheric priorities, and to
promote democratic governance and stability in the region.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The OAS is the primary political forum of the Americas and is composed of 34 active
member states. Canada is the second-largest financial contributor to the OAS, where it
has played a leading role in the promotion of democratic development, human security,
indigenous issues, civil society participation, corporate social responsibility and gender
equality. This year marks the 15th anniversary of Canada’s membership in the OAS. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Satellite transmission of the proceedings will be available on the OAS Web site:
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220184953/http://www.oas.org/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.oas.org/</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">. For more information on Canada and the OAS, visit the following
Web site: </span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220184953/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/latinamerica/oas-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/latinamerica/oas-en.asp</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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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220184953/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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