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<title>CANADA ANNOUNCES $3.7M FOR MINE ACTION IN CENTRAL AMERICA IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MITCH</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>(4:45 p.m. EST)</em> No. 268</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">CANADA ANNOUNCES $3.7M FOR MINE ACTION IN </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">CENTRAL AMERICA IN AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE MITCH</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"> </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation and Minister responsible for
La Francophonie Diane Marleau today announced a $3.7 million contribution for mine action programs in
Central America.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Canada has always regarded Central America as a priority region for mine action," said Mr. Axworthy in an
address to students in Altona, Manitoba. "With the terrible legacy and new challenges presented in the
aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, our efforts to alleviate human suffering caused by anti-personnel mines in this
region have become even more important and urgent."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"I just returned from Nicaragua and Honduras where the force of Hurricane Mitch, through mudslides and
flooding, has created a new horror by displacing anti-personnel landmines into previously cleared areas," said
Minister Marleau. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada will provide a contribution of up to $100 000 to support an assessment mission to be conducted by the
Organization of American States (OAS), which has been Canada's key partner in the effort to ban anti-personnel mines in Central America. The OAS has been working on mine action in Central America since 1993
and is well placed to conduct the necessary assessment in order to guide the development of new programs
and to evaluate the effects Hurricane Mitch has had on existing mine action programs in the region. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The ministers further announced that $3.5 million will be allocated over five years to support community-based
rehabilitation programs in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras. Canada will work with Mexico and the Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO) to realize this project. Canada has also committed a further $100 000 for
a project to be jointly implemented with Israel, aimed at community rehabilitation for landmine victims in
Guatemala.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A team of Canadian experts will travel to Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala in December to
ensure that all of these initiatives meet the new needs of the communities affected by Hurricane Mitch.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">At the same time Minister Axworthy noted that Canada and Mexico would co-host a regional seminar on anti-personnel mines in Mexico City, Mexico, this January. The theme of the seminar, Reaffirming Our Commitment,
has special significance in light of the critical setback and devastating effects created by Hurricane Mitch. Early
on in the campaign to ban landmines, Central American and Caribbean leaders pledged to make their region
mine free by the year 2000. Both the OAS and PAHO will be key participants at the seminar, building on their
important contributions to mine clearance and victim assistance in the region.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada's contributions will be sourced from the five-year $100 million Canadian Landmine Fund announced last
December at the signing conference for the Ottawa Convention.</font></p>
<p><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">André Doren</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Co-operation and </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister responsible for La Francophonie</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(819) 997-6919</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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