<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">June 2, 2006 <i>(8:25 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 61</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">STATEMENT BY MINISTER MACKAY ON THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE
IN SOMALIA AND ITS HUMANITARIAN IMPACT</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<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 expressed concern about the recent upsurge in fighting between
opposing political militia factions in Mogadishu, and the resulting deterioration in the
humanitarian situation:</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">“Canada condemns the recent fighting in Mogadishu and its impact on civilian
populations. We call for an immediate ceasefire and urge all sides to fully respect their
obligations under international humanitarian law, including the full protection of aid
workers and their safe, unimpeded access to those in need. We also call for the end of
the occupation of a major hospital operated by the Somali Red Crescent Society. </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 supports the ongoing international efforts to bring an end to the fighting,
including initiatives by the United Nations Security Council—most recently in its strong
and comprehensive statement of May 31, 2006—and by the UN Special Representative
for Somalia. We also applaud ongoing efforts by international and local humanitarian
organizations to continue to try to provide assistance. </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">“I urge all parties in Somalia to work toward achieving a lasting peace, security, and
reconciliation and reconstruction, and to address the country’s chronic food security
challenges. These objectives can best be realized through the extension and
consolidation of the authority of the Somali Transitional Federal Government, which is
supported by the United Nations and the African Union. </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">“I would also like to applaud the positive contribution that the Canadian Somali
community continues to make to the process of peace and to humanitarian assistance
in Somalia.” </span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<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/20070221040812/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>
