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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">July 31, 2006 <i>(3:25 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 90</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 WELCOMES FIRST MULTI-PARTY ELECTIONS IN OVER
FORTY YEARS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency and the Honourable Josée Verner, International
Cooperation Minister, today congratulated the people of the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) on the first round of presidential and parliamentary elections in their
country in over 40 years. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“I applaud the participation of Congolese citizens in these elections, and I am pleased
the elections were held in a generally calm and orderly manner. These elections mark a
turning point in the peacebuilding process and the development of democracy in the
Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Minister Mackay. “A freely elected government is
a significant step toward the return of peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo and
the African Great Lakes region,” added Minister Mackay.</span></span></p>
<br>
<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 the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Minister Verner. “Good
governance is a prerequisite to sustainable development and a high priority for
Canada’s international assistance program in Africa. As it did before the elections,
Canada will continue to assist the Congolese people in developing and strengthening
the capacity of government institutions and civil society to deliver services to the people
of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Government of Canada has contributed $12 million in the last two years to
supporting these elections, including sending observers to the European Union's
election observation mission. As well, Canadian Forces officers are deployed with the
ongoing United Nations peacekeeping operation, to which Canada has contributed
$163 million to date.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">In addition, more than $193 million in Canadian assistance has been provided to the
people of the DRC since 1998 in support of a number of programs, including
combatting sexual violence against women and improving health services. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For more information on Canada’s concrete contributions to the DRC please visit:
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221040908/http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/democraticrepublicofcongo"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/democraticrepublicofcongo</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"> and
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221040908/http://www.international.gc.ca/africa/drc-fr.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/africa/drc-fr.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>
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<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>
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<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">Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221040908/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>
(813) 953-6534<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221040908/http://www.acdi-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.acdi-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>
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