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<title>AXWORTHY WELCOMES RELEASE OFCHINESE DISSIDENT WANG DAN</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">April 19, 1998 No. 94</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY WELCOMES RELEASE OF</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CHINESE DISSIDENT WANG DAN</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today welcomed news that Chinese
political dissident Wang Dan has been released by China. Mr. Wang has arrived in
the United States from China, following his release on medical parole.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I am encouraged by news that Mr. Wang has been released by the Chinese
government," said Mr. Axworthy. "This welcome development follows the successful
multilateral symposium on human rights jointly hosted by Canada and China last
month in British Columbia, and the announcement later that month that China
intends to sign the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Wang Dan was a student leader during the 1989 demonstrations in Tiananmen Square,
and had been serving a lengthy sentence. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada, along with several other countries, has long been urging the Chinese to
release Wang Dan from prison. I am hopeful that this release might be followed by
the freeing of other dissidents," added Minister Axworthy.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><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</font></p>
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