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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">January 28, 2005 <i>(4:20 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 18</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 STANDS BEHIND IRAQI PEOPLE<br>
ON EVE OF HISTORIC VOTE</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 International Cooperation Minister
Aileen Carroll today offered the Government of Canada’s support to Iraqis on the eve of
the upcoming election in Iraq.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“This Sunday marks an important milestone in Iraq’s political transition toward a stable
and functioning democracy that is representative of the political will of all Iraqis,” said
Minister Pettigrew. “Despite obvious challenges, Iraqis have shown determination and
commitment to their electoral process. The Government of Canada encourages all
Iraqis to continue this democratic transition by making their voices heard at the polls.
Canada looks forward to engaging with the new authorities and working closely with
them on the reconstruction effort.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The resolve that Iraqis have shown for this process in such a difficult environment is a
testament to their belief that democracy is the foundation on which to rebuild their
country,” said Minister Carroll. “Canada was one of the first to respond to an appeal
from the United Nations Iraq Trust Fund, in August 2004, with an initial pledge of
$20 million to support Iraqi elections. The Canadian International Development Agency
has also provided up to $7 million in additional elections support to the International
Mission for Iraqi Elections (IMIE).”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">An assessment group composed of electoral experts, the IMIE was formed through the
work of a forum held in Ottawa on December 19 and 20, 2004. Elections Canada has
taken on a prominent role in the group’s operations, reflecting its own well-respected
experience and expertise in transitional political processes. The IMIE will help build the
capacity of Iraq’s electoral authorities throughout the political process of 2005, including
the constitutional referendum in October and subsequent national-level elections in
December.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">With the help of the International Organization for Migration, expatriate Iraqis in 14
countries have been registered to vote in this Sunday’s election. In Canada, nearly
11,000 Iraqis registered to vote during the sign-up period. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For more information on Iraq, please visit
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004132/http://www.international.gc.ca/middle_east/iraq-en.asp"><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/middle_east/iraq-en.asp</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 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</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<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004132/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 of 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 (CIDA)</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><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221004132/mailto:info@acdi-cida.gc.ca"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">info@acdi-cida.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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