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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">December 18, 2006 <i>(4:25 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 159</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 TAKES ECONOMIC ACTION AGAINST BELARUS</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, and the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of
International Trade, today announced that Canada is taking new measures against
Belarus by limiting Canadian exports to that country.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada remains very concerned that Belarus continues to ignore international appeals
to restore democracy,” said Minister MacKay. “From a flawed election to the continued
imprisonment of democratic supporters, Belarus persists in its flagrant abuse of human
rights and the rule of law. Canada and the international community must keep pressure
on Belarus to improve conditions for its people.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“It is Canada’s hope that economic pressure in the form of export restrictions will help
bring about positive change in Belarus,” said Minister Emerson.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Adding Belarus to the Area Control List means that all exports from Canada to Belarus
require an export permit issued under the authority of the <i>Export and Import Permits Act</i>.
Stakeholders were notified of the proposed amendment through a <i>Canada Gazette
</i>notice on July 8, 2006. Views received during the consultation period were taken into
consideration prior to the government’s decision to implement this measure.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">All applications for permits to export items to Belarus will be reviewed on a
case-by-case basis. Permits for humanitarian items—including food, clothing,
medicines, medical supplies, information material, casual gifts and personal effects
belonging to persons leaving Canada for Belarus—will generally be approved. Permits
for other items will generally be denied.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Exporters wishing to export any items to Belarus should contact the Export Controls
Division at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada for information concerning
the export permit application process.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For more information, visit </span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220225408/http://www.exportcontrols.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.exportcontrols.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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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220225408/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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