<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title></title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>February 5, 2004 <em>(5:05 p.m. EST)</em> No. 18</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>GRAHAM EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER DETERIORATING
SITUATION IN DARFUR, SUDAN</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today expressed deep concern over the
deteriorating situation in Sudan's western Darfur region, as fighting and the
displacement of civilians have intensified. The United Nations estimates that there are
now more than 700,000 persons displaced from their homes, either within Sudan or in
neighbouring Chad.</p>
<p>"I join Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan in urging
all parties to the conflict to put an immediate stop to the violence, to respect human
rights and international humanitarian law and, in particular, to ensure the protection of
civilians," said Minister Graham. "It is imperative that agencies providing humanitarian
assistance have immediate, safe and unhindered access to Darfur."</p>
<p>Graham further urged all involved parties to agree immediately to the UN's call for an
independently monitored humanitarian cease-fire that would cover all armed groups.
The Minister emphasized that, with peace so close in the civil war in the south, the
international community and the parties to the Darfur conflict must redouble their efforts
to find a rapid and peaceful solution to save lives and prevent broader destabilization.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Isabelle Savard</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221081040/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
</body>
</html>
