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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">February 8, 2006 <i>(3:30 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 9</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 the people of Haiti on the first round of presidential and legislative
elections in their country, held on February 7, 2006.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“While any incidents are regrettable, Canada notes that the few that occurred were
largely the result of the logistical challenges posed by the unprecedented voter turnout,”
said Minister MacKay. “We encourage the presidential candidates, the political parties
and the electoral authorities in Haiti to respect the democratic expression of voters by
exercising restraint and allowing the post-election democratic process to proceed in a
peaceful and orderly manner.” </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“We wish to offer our congratulations to the people of Haiti on their participation in such
large numbers in this first round of elections. The determination of voters to exercise
their democratic right is all the more noteworthy given the continued difficult conditions
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">Over the coming days, Canada will look to the final tabulation of the results as well as
the assessment of the Embassy of Canada in Haiti. Canada also looks forward to the
preliminary conclusions of the international observation missions, including those of the
International Mission for Monitoring Haitian Elections, led by Elections Canada.</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>
Department of Foreign Affairs and<br>
International Trade<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012702/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</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Canadian International Development<br>
Agency (CIDA)</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">(819) 953-6534</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">info@acdi-cida.gc.ca</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"> </span></span></span></p>
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