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<p><font size="+1"><strong>April 7, 2005 <em>(6:10 p.m. EDT)</em><br>
No. 63</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>CANADA HAILS THE PRETORIA ACCORD ON CÔTE D'IVOIRE</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement after a
peace agreement was reached in Pretoria, South Africa, between the main parties to
the conflict in Côte d'Ivoire: </p>
<p>"Canada is very pleased about the agreement reached in Pretoria on April 6 between
the parties to the conflict, and hopes that the agreement marks a lasting resumption of
the peace process in Côte d'Ivoire, which has been stalled for too long. We urge all
parties to fully implement this agreement and honour the commitments of the previous
Linas-Marcoussis and Accra accords. </p>
<p>"We commend South African President Thabo Mbeki, the African Union mediator in the
Ivorian crisis, for his personal involvement in the Pretoria discussions." </p>
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<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221011947/http://www.international.gc.ca/">http://www.international.gc.ca</a></p>
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