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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">June 8, 2005 <i>(4:00 p.m.EDT)</i><br>
No. 104</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">MINISTER PETTIGREW CONDEMNS FORCED EVICTIONS IN
ZIMBABWE </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement
condemning the destruction of residential dwellings and business premises by the
Government of Zimbabwe:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canadians are dismayed by the Government of Zimbabwe’s disregard for the most
basic rights and dignity of the Zimbabwean people. Rather than undertaking measures
to implement good governance and respect for democracy that would return the country
to economic stability and growth, the government has turned on the poorest and most
vulnerable of its people, destroying their homes and their means of livelihood. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada urges the Government of Zimbabwe, as well as local and international non-governmental organizations, to assist those already adversely affected. Officials from
the Canadian International Development Agency are in contact with humanitarian aid
agencies to assess the needs of those who have been evicted. Forced eviction
constitutes a gross violation of human rights and contravenes recognized international
norms to which the Government of Zimbabwe has subscribed.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Thousands have been made homeless and many more have been deprived of their
family income as a result of police actions in recent weeks. The Government of
Zimbabwe must discontinue the ‘cleanup’ campaign and put in place adequate
measures to ensure alternative housing and employment.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220185418/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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