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<html> <head> <meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10"> <meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <style> p { margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1px } body { font-family: "Arial", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal } </style> </head> <body> January 6, 2005 JAKARTA, Indonesia 2005/1 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE PIERRE PETTIGREW, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AT THE SPECIAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) LEADERS’ MEETING ON THE AFTERMATH OF THE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI On behalf of Prime Minister Paul Martin and the people of Canada, and along with my colleague the Minister for International Cooperation Aileen Carroll, allow me to express our most profound condolences to all nations, communities, families and individuals affected by the earthquake and ensuing tsunami. I would also like to express Canada’s appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for hosting this meeting—particularly in view of the heavy burden already on your shoulders in terms of disaster response within your own country. It has become commonplace to say that we live in an increasingly interconnected world. But rarely have we witnessed an event that more vividly demonstrates this reality than the one that occurred on December 26, 2004. The loss of life and destruction suffered by so many is so vast it is almost impossible to comprehend. Canadians grieve for those who have perished and those still missing—our own citizens, as well as the tens of thousands of people affected by this disaster. They are linked to all of us through the human bonds of family and community. As the initial shock subsides, it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure a timely, flexible, coordinated and ultimately effective global response to this global tragedy. Canada stands ready to do its part to ensure this aspiration is met. The immediate humanitarian requirements are immense; the longer-term impact and reconstruction needs have yet to be determined, but it is clear that a sustained effort and the steadfast engagement of the international community will be required for some time. Governments, civil society, private sectors and armed forces have all collaborated to meet the urgent needs of those affected by this crisis. As we move forward, we must continue to ensure that our responses remain demand-driven and not donor driven—no matter how well meaning. In this regard, Canada fully supports the United Nations as the premier organization to coordinate the international response to this crisis, and is working with other countries in support of the UN’s role. We will support this UN Flash Appeal and the consolidated appeal that will follow in Geneva. The UN, in partnership with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and well-established non-governmental organizations, has both the mandate and the expertise to ensure an effective and needs-based response to this dramatic crisis. Our response must also emphasize building domestic capacities to prepare and mitigate such crises in the future. Partnership with the affected nations is also essential. We appreciate the spirit of collaboration that has directed the relief efforts to date. We also believe that the crisis has presented an important opportunity for building relationships and solidarity among communities that should be supported. We must live up to the challenge of meeting the critical needs of affected populations, and must do it fast enough to make a real difference in their lives. Let me share with you the highlights of what the Government of Canada has undertaken in this regard:   •         First, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced on January 2 that Canada was raising its contribution for immediate relief and recovery efforts to C$80 million (US$67 million).   •         Canadian citizens are also contributing extremely generously to the work of relief agencies. In order to further support this expression of solidarity, our government will match private donations from Canadians.   •         As an additional way of making funds available to address the crisis in the region, Canada will put an immediate debt moratorium in place for any country affected by the crisis, upon request by that country.   •         To assist humanitarian relief efforts, we are deploying a Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Sri Lanka, a team that provides water purification and medical assistance on the ground, in support of existing capacities.   •         The Canadian Forces, working with the Canadian International Development Agency [CIDA], also provides airlifts to facilitate the delivery of critical goods and equipment in the region. The Government of Canada has also made a significant portion of its national emergency stockpiles available for distribution by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the World Health Organization.   •         Further, we are working to provide technical support desperately required by affected nations. In this regard, we have deployed a team of forensic and public health specialists to assist recovery and identification efforts in Thailand. Additional humanitarian contributions are currently being considered by a Canadian assessment team. This delegation is now in Indonesia in order to carry out a tour of affected areas. Like many of the countries represented here, Canada has focused its initial efforts on responding to the immediate humanitarian demands. But let me assure you we are fully aware that the international community will need to remain engaged in the region over the longer term, and we stand ready to do more as these longer-term needs become clear. The January 11 UN Pledging Conference in Geneva will be an important forum for us to consider further how our global response to this crisis can be most effectively managed. During the coming months, it is also crucial that we effectively manage the transition from relief to rehabilitation and reconstruction. This means coordinating reconstruction efforts not only among ourselves and with core relief and development agencies, but also with domestic constituencies that may have unique value to add during the reconstruction phase. In the coming weeks, it will also be crucial that we reflect on the lessons of this disaster, in particular the importance of strengthening global disaster preparedness and early warning mechanisms. The forthcoming World Conference on Natural Disasters, to be held in Kobe, Japan, provides a key opportunity to pursue such discussions. Now, more than ever, the international community must pull together as one and help where we are needed. We know this is an effort that will take months, even years, to complete—and that the road ahead is a challenging one. The message our Prime Minister has asked me to convey to you today is that Canada will be there—as a full partner—for as long as it takes. Thank you. </body> </html>

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Last Updated: 2006-10-30	Top of Page	Important Notices