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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 21, 2006 <i>(8:35 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No.139</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">STATEMENT BY MINISTER MACKAY ON ADOPTION OF A <br>
CANADIAN-SPONSORED UN RESOLUTION ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS
SITUATION IN IRAN</span></span></span></p>
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<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, today issued the following statement regarding
Canada’s resolution at the United Nations on the human rights situation in Iran:</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The international community has once again expressed its deep concern about the
human rights situation in Iran. Today, at the United Nations in New York, Canada was
joined by 70 other countries in calling upon the Government of Iran to live up to its
commitments and obligations as a state party to key international human rights
instruments.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The adoption of this resolution for the fourth consecutive year sends a strong message
of global concern and international expectation regarding Iran’s respect for the human
rights of all its citizens. The resolution calls on Iran to make improvements to the
treatment of women, and religious and ethnic minorities; to stop the execution of
minors; to end arbitrary detentions; and to respect and advance freedom of expression,
freedom of the media and the independence of the judiciary.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We hope and expect that the Government of Iran will act urgently to deal with these
serious problems of human rights and human dignity. We will continue to work with our
partners who share Canada’s vision of advancing the cause of human rights.”</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">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/20070221094658/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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