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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">June 24, 2005 <i>(2:20 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 115</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">CANADA WELCOMES AGREEMENT BETWEEN SRI LANKAN
GOVERNMENT AND LTTE ON RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen
Carroll today welcomed the signing of the Post-Tsunami Operations Management
Structure. This joint agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will serve to facilitate the identification,
approval and monitoring of reconstruction projects in selected districts of Sri Lanka’s
north and east. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We recognize the considerable challenges that the Government of Sri Lanka has faced
in going ahead with this agreement and commend President Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga for taking this bold step,” said Minister Pettigrew. “We also commend
both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE for agreeing to include equitable
Muslim representation in the management of the structure. Canada hopes that, with the
goodwill of all parties, an effective structure will foster an environment conducive to
reinvigorating the stalled peace process.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“This agreement will be an important step toward ensuring effective, equitable and
transparent delivery of post-tsunami aid and will also expedite the recovery process in
the north and east of Sri Lanka,” said Minister Carroll.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Minister Pettigrew also reiterated Canada’s concerns, however, about the political and
human rights situation in Sri Lanka. “While this accord is a positive step, Canada
remains gravely concerned about the escalating violence in Sri Lanka and urges both
sides to rigorously respect the terms of the cease-fire agreement,” added the Minister.
“We call on the LTTE to immediately end its recruitment of child soldiers and to
implement all the provisions of the 2003 action plan on this matter.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">When Prime Minister Paul Martin visited Sri Lanka in January, he pledged that Canada
would help Sri Lanka rebuild after the disaster. The Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) has announced a four-year strategy to support Sri Lanka’s
post-tsunami reconstruction efforts. As part of the strategy, Canada will expand
programming in three pre-tsunami sectors of focus (governance, gender and economic
well-being) and in two new sectors (environmental rehabilitation and management, and
fisheries). The Government of Canada has allocated $425 million toward relief,
rehabilitation and reconstruction in tsunami-affected countries. </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>
<br>
<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>
<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/20070221014026/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>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Andrew Graham</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Director of Communications</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Office of the Minister for International Cooperation</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">(819) 953-6238</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Canadian International Development Agency</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">(819) 953-6534</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">info@acdi-cida.gc.ca </span></span></span></p>
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