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<title>PETTIGREW TO ATTEND MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FORMER JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>June 7, 2000 <em>(2:25 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 143</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW TO ATTEND MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FORMER
JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew will attend the memorial service in Tokyo
on June 8 for the late Keizo Obuchi, the former Prime Minister of Japan</font><font face="Arial" size="-1">.</font><font face="Arial"> Mr. Obuchi
died May 14 after suffering a massive stroke on April 2.</font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister Pettigrew will represent the Government of Canada at the service. He will head
to Japan from Australia, where he is currently attending the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Trade Ministerial Meeting in Darwin. Canadian Ambassador to
Japan Leonard J. Edwards will also attend the service.</font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi </font><font face="Arial">was President of the </font><font face="Arial">ruling Liberal Democratic
Party. He is survived by his wife and their three children.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Sylvie Bussières</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
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