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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">May 20, 2006 <i>(12:25 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 54</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">MINISTER MACKAY WELCOMES NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT </span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Peter
MacKay today made the following statement welcoming the Iraqi Council of
Representatives’ endorsement of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s proposed cabinet:</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“This new government embodies the strong commitment to democracy demonstrated
by the people of Iraq throughout the political transition. Now Iraqis have their first
democratically elected government with a full-term mandate since the fall of Saddam
Hussein’s dictatorial regime. This is a remarkable accomplishment considering the
decades of dictatorship inflicted upon Iraqis and the attempts by insurgents to derail
Iraq’s democratization.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We are pleased that the cabinet is composed of highly motivated people dedicated to
building a united and democratic Iraq. There is no greater honour or duty than to
represent the people who have put their faith in the democratic process. We wish Prime
Minister al-Maliki and his government success in implementing the new constitution and
establishing inclusive and efficient governing institutions. Canada looks forward to
working with the national unity government of Iraq and will support its efforts to provide
security and prosperity to all Iraqis.”</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">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012328/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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