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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">December 14, 2006 <i>(1:15 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 156</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">CANADA WELCOMES HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DECISION ON DARFUR</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 on the decision of the
United Nations Human Rights Council at the Special Session on Darfur:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada welcomes the Council’s consensus decision to dispatch a high-level mission of
experts to Darfur to assess the human rights situation in the region. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We urge this mission to include a focus on the disturbing rise in violence being directed
against civilians, including sexual violence, the lack of accountability for ongoing violations,
and recommendations for practical action. Canada will follow closely the actions that the
Council takes to implement this decision.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“At this special session, Canada raised its deep concern for the people of Darfur and the
repeated violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. We are gravely
troubled by the obstacles to the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid in Darfur, and
we call on the Government of Sudan to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to
affected populations.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“As part of a concerted international effort, Canada will continue to work with the Government
of Sudan, the African Union and the UN toward ending the suffering of the people of Darfur.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada is a top contributor to the African Union Mission in Sudan and has provided $190
million in funding since 2004, including $20 million announced last May by the Prime Minister.</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/20070220183149/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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