May 20, 1997 No. 90

CANADA CONTRIBUTES 15 RCMP OFFICERS

TO INTERNATIONAL POLICE TASK FORCE IN BOSNIA

Solicitor General of Canada Herb Gray, Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie Don Boudria announced today that Canada is sending 15 Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers to Bosnia to participate in the United Nations International Police Task Force (IPTF).

"The 15 RCMP officers who are being deployed to Bosnia are qualified and well prepared for the task ahead of them. I know I can count on the professionalism of these Canadian police officers to serve the UN well and support responsible police forces in Bosnia," said Mr. Gray.

The officers are being deployed under the terms of a recently concluded Administrative Arrangement concerning funding for RCMP participation in international peacekeeping missions. The Arrangement, which reflects the close co-operation among the departments and agencies involved, will streamline the process of deploying RCMP personnel to international missions, allowing the Canadian government to respond more rapidly to requests from the international community for highly qualified civilian police.

"Canada is committed to participating actively in the efforts of the international community to restore peace and order in Bosnia," said Mr. Axworthy. "This decision further reflects Canada's emphasis on the important role of civilians in peacebuilding and in making the transition from conflict to stability."

"Canada is seriously engaged in work towards stronger democratic institutions in Bosnia," Mr. Boudria stated. "Sending Canadian police officers to Bosnia fits well with the reconstruction assistance objectives of the Canadian International Development Agency's Central and Eastern Europe program."

The IPTF was established by a UN Security Council Resolution in December 1995, following the Bosnian Peace Agreement, which was signed in November of that year. Its mandate is to monitor, train, advise and otherwise assist the Bosnian police forces to ensure that they operate in accordance with internationally recognized standards and with respect for internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The IPTF has a current mandate of 18 months and consists of a multinational force of approximately 1800 officers from 37 countries operating under UN command and headed by a Danish officer. Canadian contingents will serve in six-month rotations.

Five Canadian police officers who have served in Bosnia with the IPTF for a year with support from Canada's Reconstruction Assistance Program will be returning to Canada next month.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Dan Brien

Communications Assistant

Office of the Solicitor General of Canada

(613) 991-2874

Catherine Lappe

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Jacques Lefebvre

Press Attaché

Office of the Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie

(819) 997-6922

Yves Duval

Media Relations Officer

Canadian International Development Agency

(819) 953-9505

This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca