<html>
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 12">
<meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<style>
p
{
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 1px
}
body
{
font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
font-size: 12pt;
font-weight: normal;
font-style: normal
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">May 5, 2006 <i>(7:10 p.m. EDT)</i></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">No. 48</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 CONGRATULATES PARTIES TO<br>
DARFUR PEACE AGREEMENT</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay today applauded the Government of Sudan and
members of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) represented by Minni Arkou Minawi
for signing the Darfur Peace Agreement in Abuja, Nigeria, at the peace talks led by the
African Union (AU). He also welcomed the decision by a substantial number of members
of the SLM/Abdul Wahid negotiating team to abide by the terms of the agreement, even
though the movement itself has not yet signed.</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 is encouraged by the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement as an essential
step toward a lasting peace for the people of Darfur. This agreement marks the successful
conclusion of a very complex process,” said Minister MacKay. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Reaching an agreement is only the first step. Parties must now work toward ensuring both
the protection of civilians and access for humanitarian workers in the region. It is crucial
that all people of Darfur support this agreement. Implementation and reconciliation must
follow quickly and Canada, along with our international partners, will be there to support an
end to the violence.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada is proud to have played a central diplomatic role in this process, in particular
through the important work of Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to
the United Nations in New York Allan Rock and High Commissioner to Nigeria David
Angell and their officials in Abuja,” said Minister MacKay. “Canada worked closely with the
AU, the EU, the U.K. and the U.S. in brokering an agreement during the final days of these
negotiations. These and other international partners were actively engaged throughout the
two-year process.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Since September 2004, Canada has contributed a total of $218 million in support of
diplomatic, humanitarian and African Union-led efforts to end the violence and bring peace
to the people of Darfur. Canada remains a top contributor to the African Union Mission in
Sudan, having provided 25 helicopters, two aircraft, 105 armoured personnel carriers and
related equipment, as well as civilian police and military expertise.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Further information on Canada’s efforts to address the conflict in Sudan can be found on
Foreign Affairs Canada’s website at
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220232028/http://www.international.gc.ca/canadasudan/menu-en.asp"><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/canadasudan/menu-en.asp</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>
<br>
<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>
<br>
<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/20070220232028/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>
</body>
</html>
