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<title>AXWORTHY WELCOMES TRANSFER OF CHRISTINE LAMONT AND DAVID SPENCER TO CANADA</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">November 20, 1998 <em>(7:15 p.m. EST)</em> No. 269</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">AXWORTHY WELCOMES TRANSFER OF </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">CHRISTINE LAMONT AND DAVID SPENCER TO CANADA</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today welcomed the transfer of Christine Lamont and David Spencer
under provisions of the Canada-Brazil Transfer of Offenders Treaty. Ms. Lamont and Mr. Spencer, who had
applied to return to Canada in July, are leaving Brazil this evening en route to Canada.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Their return brings to an end one of Canada's longest consular cases. I am pleased that the Brazilian
authorities were able to make these arrangements. Their </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">co-operation was instrumental in resolving this long-standing matter," said </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Mr. Axworthy. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Ms. Lamont and Mr. Spencer were sentenced to 28-year prison terms for their involvement in the 1989
kidnapping of a Brazilian businessman. Under terms of the Treaty, their full sentence is transferred to Canada,
where the remainder will be served in accordance with Canadian laws and regulations. They will be eligible for
conditional release under terms of Canada's Corrections and Conditional Release Act. Any such release will
rest with the National Parole Board of Canada.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Upon their return to Canada tomorrow morning, Ms. Lamont and Mr. Spencer will be incarcerated immediately
at a Canadian correctional facility.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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