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<title>CANADA TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">October 5, 1998 No. 231</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA TO CONTRIBUTE TO </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND</font><font face="Courier"></font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Canada is
contributing $50 000 to the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) in support of
international peacebuilding efforts in Ireland. Minister Axworthy made the
announcement following a meeting with his Irish counterpart, David Andrews, who is
accompanying Ireland's President Mary McAleese during her first state visit to
Canada. The IFI promotes social and economic progress in Ireland and encourages
contact, dialogue and reconciliation between all sides of the conflict.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada is very committed to supporting peace efforts in Ireland," said Mr.
Axworthy. "We are especially pleased that Canada's contribution will be applied
toward the continued activities of the Fund's Wider Horizons Program, which
focusses on helping Ireland's youth shape a peaceful and prosperous future for
themselves." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada has contributed more than $4 million to the International Fund for Ireland
since it was established in 1986 by the U.K. and Irish governments. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada's contribution of $50 000 is being made under the Canadian Peacebuilding
Program, which is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Canada (DFAIT). The Peacebuilding Program is an element of the
Canadian Peacebuilding Initiative launched in October 1996 as a joint undertaking
of DFAIT and the Canadian International Development Agency. </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">-30-</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"><strong></strong></font><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</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">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca <em>(3:00 p.m. EDT)</em></font></p>
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