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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">October 13, 2006 <i>(10:25 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 119</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">MINISTER MACKAY WELCOMES PROGRESS IN<br>
NORTHERN IRELAND</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, responded positively today to news that a framework
agreement had been reached in St. Andrews, Scotland, that could pave the way for
a new power-sharing arrangement and the restoration of the Northern Ireland
Assembly. The Minister welcomed this progress after a number of years of
paralysis of the Assembly.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Prime Minister Blair of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Ahern of Ireland,
through their persistence, and the leaders of the various political parties in Northern
Ireland, by their spirit of compromise, have demonstrated true leadership in the
interests of all communities in Northern Ireland,” said Minister MacKay.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">While the Minister recognized that there were still obstacles to overcome, he urged
all parties to the agreement to increase their efforts to meet the November 24
deadline set by the British and Irish governments to reach a final agreement.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada has long been a supporter of the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the
1998 Good Friday Agreement, which provides the framework for the devolution of
government in Northern Ireland. As part of its support to the process, Canada has
contributed more than $7.7 million to the International Fund for Ireland since its
inception in 1986 for projects to support inter-communal cooperation between
youth in Northern Ireland.</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>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221040953/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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