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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">March 10, 2006 <i>(7:00 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 19</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA WELCOMES AFRICAN UNION DECISION TO SUPPORT
TRANSITION TO UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DARFUR </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay made the following statement regarding the
decision announced today by the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to support a transition to a United Nations-led peacekeeping
mission in Sudan’s troubled western region of Darfur:</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We welcome the AU’s decision to work closely with the United Nations during the
planning process to ensure a smooth transition. It is important that the international
community continue to support the AU mission during this transition period in order to
maintain continuity of effort and resolve, and to ensure that there is no further
deterioration in the security situation. Canada will continue to play a significant role in
this regard. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The Government of Canada fully supports the results achieved to date by the AU
mission in Darfur despite the considerable challenges faced on the ground, and further
recognizes the important leadership role the AU is playing in seeking a political solution
to the conflict in Darfur. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We urge all parties to continue to work together to reach an early conclusion of a
peace agreement at the ongoing peace talks on Darfur in Abuja, Nigeria. We also
strongly support the AU’s call for an end to all acts of violence in Darfur, particularly
those committed against the civilian population, humanitarian workers and personnel of
the African Union Mission in Sudan.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">More information on Canada’s efforts to address the conflict in Sudan is available on
Foreign Affairs Canada’s website at </span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012401/http://www.canadasudan.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.canadasudan.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>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"><span> </span></span></span></span></p>
<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>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012401/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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