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<title>CANADA ENCOURAGED BY CONTINUING PROGRESS INSRI LANKAN PEACE PROCESS</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>September 20, 2002 <em>(2:45 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 104</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>CANADA ENCOURAGED BY CONTINUING PROGRESS IN</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>SRI LANKAN PEACE PROCESS</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) David Kilgour today welcomed the successful
conclusion of the first round of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and representatives of the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in Sattahip, Thailand. </p>
<p>"I have been very impressed with the strides taken over the past eight months to advance the cause of peace in Sri Lanka,"
said Minister Graham. "It is encouraging that, after almost 20 years of conflict, both parties are making progress toward
resolving their differences through negotiation rather than bloodshed."</p>
<p>Mr. Graham indicated that Canada is prepared to support further progress by providing technical assistance on the difficult
jurisdictional and financial issues under discussion, noting that Canada has 135 years of experience dealing with such issues
within a multi-ethnic, bilingual, federal state. The government recently provided funding to the Forum of Federations, a
Canadian-based non-governmental organization, for a team of experts to visit Sri Lanka in the first week of September to
explore options for providing such assistance.</p>
<p>On September 17 in New York, Minister Graham met with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and
discussed the many issues still to be resolved during the peace process. Minister Graham and Secretary of State Kilgour
will also be meeting with G.L. Peiris, Sri Lanka's Minister of Constitutional Affairs, on September 23 in Ottawa. Minister
Peiris is the Government of Sri Lanka's Chief Negotiator at the peace talks.</p>
<p>"During my visit to the war-affected areas of eastern Sri Lanka in March of this year, I witnessed first hand the suffering
caused by the conflict and the hope engendered by the peace process," said Secretary of State Kilgour. "Canada has voiced
strong support for progress toward peace and is contributing actively through peacebuilding and development work
undertaken by Canadians with our Sri Lankan partners."</p>
<p>Through the Canadian International Development Agency, Canada also has in place a carefully designed developmental
assistance program for Sri Lanka. It aims to address the underlying causes of the conflict and supports key Sri Lankan
institutions that undertake economic reforms, promote human rights and advance democratic values. Canada is currently
involved in 14 such projects in Sri Lanka valued at $68.8 million. </p>
<p>- 30 -</p>
<p>Media representatives are advised that there will be a media availability and photo opportunity with Ministers Graham and
Peiris on Monday, September 23, at 12:00 p.m. at the Lester B. Pearson Building, 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa.</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Isabelle Savard</p>
<p>Senior Communications Adviser</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Jacqueline O'Neill</p>
<p>Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)</p>
<p>(613) 944-2162</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221020658/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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