<html>
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 12">
<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"><span style="font-size: 12pt">October 16, 2005 <i>(3:15 p.m. EDT)</i></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 12pt">No. 186</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 ISSUES STATEMENT ON IRAQ
CONSTITUTION REFERENDUM</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 on the
recently completed referendum to ratify Iraq’s new constitution: </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Today’s referendum is a milestone in Iraq’s democratic development and Canada
congratulates the people of Iraq on this significant achievement. The referendum
represents the culmination of a complex negotiation process and reflects the dedicated
work of the Constitutional Drafting Committee and the National Assembly. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The referendum represents an opportunity for all Iraqis to make their voices heard by
participating directly in the political process. The number of Iraqis who went to the polls
is a testament to the spirit of the Iraqi people and their commitment to Iraq’s future,
despite repeated attempts by insurgents to derail Iraq’s democratic transition. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada will continue to support the establishment of a peaceful and prosperous Iraq.
We are committed to working with the Iraqi people to implement a constitution and
establish institutions that respect all Iraqis and are consistent with international
standards of human rights.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We are also pleased to hear initial reports from the International Mission for Iraqi
Elections, headed by Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley,
congratulating Iraq’s Electoral Commission on having done a tremendous job in a short
time under very challenging circumstances.”</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/20070220184458/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>
</body>
</html>
