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<title>GRAHAM ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF CANADIAN EMBASSY IN THE PHILIPPINES</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>December 20, 2002 <em>(9:10 a.m. EST)</em> No. 178</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>GRAHAM ANNOUNCES REOPENING OF</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>CANADIAN EMBASSY IN THE PHILIPPINES</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today announced that the Canadian embassy in the Philippines will reopen on
Monday, December 30, 2002. The mission had been closed since November 28, 2002, due to a security threat.</p>
<p>"I wish to announce the reopening of the Canadian embassy in the Philippines, a country with which Canada has close
commercial, political and people-to-people ties," said Mr. Graham. "In November, we felt it necessary to close the mission,
given a very real threat to the lives of Canadians and Filipinos working there."</p>
<p>The Minister added that he was grateful to the Philippine government for its understanding and assistance during the
temporary closure of the Canadian mission.</p>
<p>Embassy services, including consular assistance, visa and immigration services, trade facilitation and development
assistance, will be fully operational as of December 30.</p>
<p>For further information, please consult the Philippines Travel Report at <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221030431/http://www.voyage.gc.ca/destinations/menu_e.htm">http://www.voyage.gc.ca</a></p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Isabelle Savard</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</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/20070221030431/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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