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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">January 19, 2006 <i>(4:10 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 4</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">GOVERNMENT OF CANADA STATEMENT ON CÔTE D’IVOIRE</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Government of Canada today issued the following statement regarding the
deterioration of the security situation in Côte d’Ivoire resulting from widespread protests
that have included attacks against the United Nations installations in that country:</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span> </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada is concerned about the recurrent unrest that is taking place in Côte d’Ivoire.
The turmoil threatens to undermine the progress made thus far by Ivorians, with the
help of the international community, in achieving a lasting solution to the crisis affecting
their country.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada calls for a return to peace, political dialogue, and respect for human rights and
international law in this country, including freedom of movement, which has been
hindered by protests in Abidjan and in other major cities. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada underscores the need for disarmament, demobilization and the reintegration of
combatants, as well as free and transparent elections, as necessary elements of
peacebuilding in Côte d’Ivoire. Canada supports newly designated Prime Minister
Konan Banny and his transition government, named recently following extensive
consultation with all parties to the conflict. Canada urges all parties to continue to work
in concert with the United Nations Security Council.<span> </span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada’s active support for the peace process in Côte d’Ivoire is underlined by its
contribution of a senior officer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as leader of
the civilian police component of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI)
since its inception in April 2004. There are also nine Canadian civilian police officers
serving with UNOCI.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The Canadian Embassy in Abidjan has been temporarily closed as a precautionary
measure. Canadian officials are in contact with registered Canadians and have warned
them to limit their movements until the security situation improves. Foreign Affairs
Canada continues to advise Canadians not to travel to Côte d’Ivoire.” </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For more information on Canada’s involvement in Côte d’Ivoire please visit</span></span></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221041728/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/africa/cote_ivoire-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/africa/cote_ivoire-en.asp</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"><span> </span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221041728/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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