May 30, 2005 (9:40 EDT)
No. 97

CANADA TO HOST MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL

CONFERENCE ON HAITI

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister Aileen Carroll today announced that the Montreal International Conference on Haiti will take place on June 16 and 17, 2005.

“I am pleased to welcome Haiti’s international partners to Montreal for this conference,” said Minister Pettigrew. “As Haiti prepares to hold elections, maintaining the dialogue between Haitians and the international community is essential. The Montreal International Conference on Haiti is the result of the invitation extended by Canada at the Cayenne Meeting, in French Guiana, to continue implementing the joint effort of the Government of Haiti and the international community in response to Haiti’s needs.”

The Montreal International Conference on Haiti, organized by the Government of Canada in conjunction with the Government of Haiti, will bring together senior officials from Haiti’s international partners. During the meeting, participants will discuss the situation in Haiti; the procedural requirements for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) under the new Security Council resolution, which will be voted on by May 31; the progress of the electoral process; the eventual establishment of an international elections observation mission; and the implementation of the Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF).

“Canada is honoured to host Haiti's international partners in Montreal to work on a concerted strategy to ensure that fundamental rights and democratic values will continue to be respected during and after the election,” said Minister Carroll. “By bringing together Haitian partners, this conference will allow us all to work closely to improve the quality of life of the Haitian people.”

The Government of Canada has agreed to contribute more than $180 million over two years toward reconstruction and development efforts, including $154 million in support of the transitional government’s ICF and 100 civilian police officers for MINUSTAH. Canada has also committed $17 million to facilitate the smooth running of Haiti’s electoral process.

For more information on Canada’s contribution in Haiti, visit the following Web site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/cip-pic/library/reconstructinghaiti-en.asp.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca

Andrew Graham
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
(819) 953-6238

Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency
(819) 953-6534
info@acdi-cida.gc.ca