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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">October 5, 2005 <i>(1:40 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 174</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 TO TABLE RESOLUTION AT UN<br>
ON IRAN’S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew announced today that Canada intends to bring
a resolution to the floor of the United Nations in the coming weeks regarding Iran’s poor
regard for human rights.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Given that Canada has seen no credible evidence of any improvement in the human
rights situation in Iran, for the third year in a row, we will table a resolution on Iran’s
record on human rights,” said Minister Pettigrew. “A membership at the United Nations
is a privilege as well as a responsibility. In that regard, by virtue of its membership of
the UN General Assembly, a country acknowledges that it must address concerns from
the global community. Iran has not lived up to its international human rights obligations
and has not conformed with past UN resolutions on this matter. We believe this must
change.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">In 2003 and 2004, Canada worked with other members of the international community
to present a resolution at the UN General Assembly on the human rights situation in
Iran. The General Assembly adopted the 2004 resolution on December 20 with 71
votes in favour, 54 against and 55 abstentions.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Although the resolution welcomed Iran’s announcement of a ban on torture and the
country’s cooperation with the UN in developing human rights programs, it highlighted
serious concerns with regard to Iran’s human rights record. It called upon the Iranian
government to abide by its international human rights obligations, to cooperate with the
UN special procedures that address human rights requirements, to implement the UN’s
recommendations and to set a date for a visit by the Working Group on Enforced or
Involuntary Disappearances. The resolution further called upon Iran to fully implement
the ban on torture, to end amputation and flogging, to abolish execution by stoning and
to expedite the creation of offices of the prosecutor in all provinces, among other things. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada and like-minded countries continue to monitor the human rights situation in Iran
closely. </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/20070220185048/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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