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<title>CANADA CONGRATULATES PARTIES TO BURUNDI PEACE AGREEMENT</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>October 9, 2003 <em>(7:00 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 157</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>CANADA CONGRATULATES PARTIES TO </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>BURUNDI PEACE AGREEMENT</strong></font></p>
<p>Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham today welcomed the political and military agreement signed October 8 in Pretoria,
South Africa, between the transitional government of Burundi and the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD). This is
the most significant development since the signature of the Arusha Peace Accords in December 2000.</p>
<p>"We congratulate Burundian President Domitien Ndayizeye and the head of the FDD, Pierre Nkurunziza, for their
courageous commitment to peace," said Minister Graham. "We are grateful to South African President Thabo Mbeki for his
leadership, and to the leaders of the region for their efforts toward achieving a peace agreement."</p>
<p>Canada joined the United Nations and other members of the international community in urging all Burundians to support
the agreement without delay in order to end the civil war that has ravaged the country for 10 years.</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/20070221100125/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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