<html>
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10">
<meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<style>
p
{
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 1px
}
body
{
font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
font-size: 12pt;
font-weight: normal;
font-style: normal
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">September 14, 2005 <i>(11:00 a.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 164</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">STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
MR. BHUPINDER S. LIDDAR</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew and Mr. Bhupinder S. Liddar issued today
the following statements upon the release of the Security and Intelligence Review
Committee’s (SIRC) report on his security clearance:</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span> </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish to take this opportunity to express our
sincere regret for the impact the delays related to Mr. Liddar’s diplomatic appointment
have had on him both personally and professionally,” said Mr. Pettigrew. “With
Mr. Liddar’s consent, I also wish to confirm publicly that the government has granted
him a top secret security clearance based upon the recommendations of Canada’s
Security and Intelligence Review Committee.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I am pleased that the Minister and the government have expressed regret over the
delay in making my appointment and delighted that the government has issued a
security clearance to me,” said Mr. Liddar. “I am also pleased with the SIRC decision
and look forward to serving Canada.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The government and Mr. Liddar are in discussions regarding his diplomatic
appointment, which will conclude in the near future, and have no further comments to
make about this matter at this time.</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>
</body>
</html>
