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<title>CANADA CONTRIBUTES 15 RCMP OFFICERSTO INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE IN BOSNIA</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">May 20, 1997 No. 90</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA CONTRIBUTES 15 RCMP OFFICERS</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">TO INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE IN BOSNIA</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Solicitor General of Canada Herb Gray, Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and
Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la
Francophonie Don Boudria announced today that Canada is sending 15 Royal Canadian
Mounted Police (RCMP) officers to Bosnia to participate in the United Nations
International Police Task Force (IPTF).</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The 15 RCMP officers who are being deployed to Bosnia are qualified and well
prepared for the task ahead of them. I know I can count on the professionalism of
these Canadian police officers to serve the UN well and support responsible police
forces in Bosnia," said Mr. Gray.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The officers are being deployed under the terms of a recently concluded
Administrative Arrangement concerning funding for RCMP participation in
international peacekeeping missions. The Arrangement, which reflects the close co-operation among the departments and agencies involved, will streamline the process
of deploying RCMP personnel to international missions, allowing the Canadian
government to respond more rapidly to requests from the international community
for highly qualified civilian police.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada is committed to participating actively in the efforts of the international
community to restore peace and order in Bosnia," said Mr. Axworthy. "This decision
further reflects Canada's emphasis on the important role of civilians in
peacebuilding and in making the transition from conflict to stability."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada is seriously engaged in work towards stronger democratic institutions in
Bosnia," Mr. Boudria stated. "Sending Canadian police officers to Bosnia fits well
with the reconstruction assistance objectives of the Canadian International
Development Agency's Central and Eastern Europe program."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The IPTF was established by a UN Security Council Resolution in December 1995,
following the Bosnian Peace Agreement, which was signed in November of that year.
Its mandate is to monitor, train, advise and otherwise assist the Bosnian police
forces to ensure that they operate in accordance with internationally recognized
standards and with respect for internationally recognized human rights and
fundamental freedoms.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The IPTF has a current mandate of 18 months and consists of a multinational force
of approximately 1800 officers from 37 countries operating under UN command and
headed by a Danish officer. Canadian contingents will serve in six-month
rotations.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Five Canadian police officers who have served in Bosnia with the IPTF for a year
with support from Canada's Reconstruction Assistance Program will be returning to
Canada next month.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">-30-</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Dan Brien</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Communications Assistant</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Solicitor General of Canada</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 991-2874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Catherine Lappe</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Jacques Lefebvre</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Press Attaché</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for
la Francophonie</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 997-6922</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Yves Duval</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Officer</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canadian International Development Agency</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 953-9505</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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