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<title>AXWORTHY, MARLEAU ANNOUNCE NEW INITIATIVES FOR CHIAPAS</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 5, 1998 No. 147</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY, MARLEAU ANNOUNCE </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">NEW INITIATIVES FOR CHIAPAS</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Diane Marleau, Minister for
International Co-operation and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, today
announced increased assistance for Indigenous communities in Mexico. They also
noted that further measures are being considered following recommendations made
by five Canadian Members of Parliament, who recently travelled to the region. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I am pleased that this parliamentary delegation was able to investigate the
situation in Chiapas with the co-operation of the Government of Mexico," said Mr.
Axworthy. "The delegation's first-hand look at conditions in the region has
reinforced my view that dialogue, as well as the presence of responsible
international observers, is crucial to reducing tensions and reaching a peaceful
solution. We value the input from all parties involved and have already begun
implementing some of the delegation's recommendations." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada supports a number of development and humanitarian activities in the
region, and is looking for ways of responding further in light of the rapidly
changing situation in Chiapas," said Minister Marleau. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Ministers Axworthy and Marleau announced that Canada has agreed to increase the
Canada Fund allocation for Mexico for 1998/99 to $500 000, an increase of
$50 000, and to target $100 000 of the total amount to support the socio-economic
development of Indigenous communities. Canada Fund projects in Chiapas in the
past have focussed on areas such as food self-sufficiency, purchase of equipment
for a community-based hospital, preservation of Indigenous culture and human
rights workshops. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy expressed Canada's interest in sending observers to Chiapas for the
local elections in October 1998, pending a formal invitation from the Mexican
government. The Canadian government will also be inviting Mexico's Federal Co-ordinator for Chiapas, Mr. Emilio Rabasa, to Canada in response to a
recommendation by the parliamentarians. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Finally, the ministers welcomed Mexico's recent decision to allow the
International Committee of the Red Cross to resume its humanitarian work in the
State of Chiapas. They stressed the importance of co-operative efforts by all
parties to disarm civilian groups, and welcomed the parliamentarians' interest in
continuing their discussions with Canadian non-governmental organizations active
in Chiapas. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Mr. Rabasa has offered to come to Canada and we hope that he will be able to
meet with Canadian parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations," said
David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa), who visited Mexico
last January. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Jacques Saada (Brossard-La Prairie), Daniel Turp (Beauharnois-Salaberry), David
Iftody (Provencher), Diane St-Jacques (Shefford) and Dick Proctor (Palliser)
visited Mexico City and Chiapas from May 8 to 12. The delegation met Wednesday
with Mr. Axworthy and Mr. Kilgour to brief them on their meetings with a broad
cross-section of government officials and civil society in Mexico City and
Chiapas.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">André Doren</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister for International Co-operation and Minister responsible
for La Francophonie</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 997-6919</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Sara Mohsin</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 992-9404</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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