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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 24, 2005 <i>(1:50 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 235</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 ON LIBERIA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement on
yesterday’s announcement of the official results of the second round of Liberian
presidential elections, held on November 8, 2005:</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I applaud the participation of Liberian citizens in these elections and I am pleased the
elections were held in a generally calm and orderly manner. These elections mark a
turning point in the peacebuilding process and the return to democracy in Liberia.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I am encouraged by preliminary statements by the United Nations and various on-site
observers concluding that the election process was fair and transparent. We are,
however, aware that a candidate has filed a complaint regarding electoral fraud and we
await the results of an investigation by Liberia’s National Election Commission. We
hope that the parties involved will comply with the commission’s final decision.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Yesterday’s announcement also marks an important milestone in Africa’s history, as
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf becomes Africa’s first democratically elected female head of
state. We are aware of the challenges that await Ms. Johnson-Sirleaf and her
government and we call on them to promote dialogue and to establish transparency
and good governance as key priorities.”</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span> </span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
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<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>
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<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/20070220184211/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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