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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">September 24, 2004 (6:00 p.m. EDT) No. 112</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">STATEMENT OF THE GROUP OF FRIENDS <br>
ON UNITED NATIONS REFORM</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The Group of Friends on United Nations Reform released the following statement last
night in New York, following its first plenary meeting chaired by Mexican Foreign
Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez Bautista. Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew
attended the meeting and endorsed the statement. Established in 2003 on Mexico’s
initiative, the Group is seeking to draw others into a broad consensus in favour of a
reform agenda and action to ensure its realization. Members include Algeria, Australia,
Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands,
New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Spain and Sweden.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">- 30 -</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The Statement of the Group of Friends on the United Nations Reform is attached.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221044638/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT OF THE<br>
GROUP OF FRIENDS ON UN REFORM</span></span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of Friends on United Nations Reform met
to exchange views regarding the goals and future activities of the Group, with the aim of
strengthening the UN system.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">The Ministers emphasized the paramount importance of the UN for the maintenance of
international peace and security, the promotion of long-term sustainable development,
the furthering of socio-economic well-being for the world’s peoples and the prevalence
of international law among nations, on the basis of the purposes and principles of the
UN Charter.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">The Ministers also expressed the view that the UN requires an urgent and broad reform
to fully meet the challenges of an evolving international environment, so that it becomes
better able to respond in an effective and timely manner to threats to international
peace and security, and promote global development. The Ministers stressed the
relationship between development, good governance, respect for human rights,
environmental protection and peace and security.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">In this context, the Ministers warmly welcomed the Secretary-General’s efforts in the
UN reform process, especially by entrusting the High-Level Panel on Threats,
Challenges and Change with the task of examining the current threats, evaluating
existing policies, processes and institutions and making recommendations.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">With a view to contribute to the UN reform process, the Ministers stated that the Group
of Friends’ diverse regional composition, reflecting a wide range of perspectives among
member states, constitutes a tool to mobilize political action in favour of reform, in
particular within their respective regions, in the following areas:</span></span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>strengthen the UN as the main multilateral institution for addressing current and
future challenges to international peace and security;</span></span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>in the process under way, encourage a balanced and comprehensive approach
that addresses the most critical issues facing the UN and its member states; and</span></span></p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"> </p>
<p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">• <span>        </span>promote the reform among member states and raise the political momentum
which will be spurred by the issues being addressed by the High-Level Panel and
the Secretary-General’s recommendations thereon.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">The Ministers emphasized that 2005 will be a key year for reform. They stated that they
could not afford to let the opportunity slip by or to fall short of effectively addressing
perilous challenges of today.</span></span></p>
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