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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 15, 2005 <i>(4:35 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 217</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 WELCOMES OPENING OF GAZA CROSSINGS</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
welcoming the agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on border
crossings in the Gaza Strip:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We welcome today’s announcement, made by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice, European Union High Representative Javier Solana, and Quartet Special Envoy
for Gaza Disengagement James Wolfensohn, on behalf of Israeli and Palestinian
negotiators. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The willingness of both the Israelis and Palestinians to work out a plan to open the
Rafah crossing, allowing for the flow of people and goods at this critical time in the
Middle East region, is encouraging, and Canada will continue to provide its support to
ensure that progress continues.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada urges both sides to use this momentum to reinvigorate peace talks, and to
pursue the goals set out in the Road Map for Peace.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada is also pleased to see that the agreement will take effect almost immediately.
Equally important, the agreement paves the way for the development of a seaport,
opens the possibility of rebuilding Gaza International Airport, and situates the security
and economic revitalization of Israelis and Palestinians at the forefront.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“As part of our enhanced package of assistance to the Palestinians, Canada has
deployed a high-level border management expert in support of the work of the Quartet’s
Special Envoy. We will also rely on additional expert assistance to be provided by the
Canada Border Services Agency to the Palestinian Authority in the area of border
management in the coming months.”</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">James Christoff<br>
Press Secretary<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/20070220185848/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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