June 7, 2000 (4:00 p.m. EDT) No. 145

AXWORTHY APPOINTS HEAD OF

CANADIAN OFFICE IN SUDAN

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that the office of the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, will be headed by Nicholas Coghlan, a Foreign Service human rights specialist currently posted to Bogotá, Colombia. Mr. Coghlan has worked tirelessly over the past years to protect villagers in conflict zones in Colombia, by supporting a strategy of "accompaniment" to remind guerillas and paramilitary groups that the outside world is watching.

The new office, to be opened by the end of July, is an extension of the Canadian Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which is accredited to Sudan. This initiative is one of several measures that the Canadian government outlined on February 14 to further peace in Sudan.

"The presence of this office in Khartoum will enhance Canada's ability to further the peace process in Sudan, promote human rights in the country and ensure consular service for our nationals who are visiting or living there," said Mr. Axworthy. "Information provided by the office will also allow decision makers to determine where humanitarian assistance is most needed."

A tragic consequence of the civil war in Sudan is the alarming human rights situation, most notably in the southern part of the country. Canada has condemned the Government of Sudan's systematic bombing of civilian targets, and has urged all parties to the conflict to abide by international human rights covenants and humanitarian law.

The devastating civil war in Sudan has caused approximately two million deaths since 1983, and displaced more than four million civilians.

Mr. Coghlan will be assisted in his new duties by three locally engaged support staff. Discussions are currently under way with the United Kingdom regarding co-location with the British Embassy in Khartoum.

- 30 -

A biographical note on Mr. Coghlan is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Nicholas Coghlan

Nicholas N. Coghlan was born on December 20, 1954. He holds a master's degree in modern languages from the University of Oxford. At Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade headquarters, Mr. Coghlan worked in the Middle East Division, South America Relations Division and Mexico Division. He served in Mexico from 1995 until 1997. He is currently First Secretary and Consul in Bogotá, Colombia. Mr. Coghlan is married to Jennifer Coghlan.