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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">April 23, 2006 <i>(11:45 a.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 40</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 CONGRATULATES HAITI ON ELECTIONS</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay and International Cooperation Minister Josée
Verner today congratulated Haiti on the completion of the second round of legislative
elections in the country, held on April 21, 2006.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The Government of Canada congratulates the Haitian people on the successful
conduct of their elections,” said Minister MacKay.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“These elections mark a further step in advancing democracy, human rights and the
rule of law in Haiti,” said Minister Verner.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span> </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada looks forward to the official results of the elections, as well as the conclusions
of the international observation missions, including those of the International Mission for
Monitoring Haitian Elections, led by Elections Canada.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span> </span></span></span></p>
<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">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221142526/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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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Canadian International Development Agency<br>
(819) 953-6534<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221142526/http://www.cida.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.cida.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></p>
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