September 30, 1998 No. 225

PARLIAMENTARIANS, ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS

TO OBSERVE ELECTIONS IN CHIAPAS

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy announced today that Canadian observers, including federal parliamentarians and representatives of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), will visit Mexico in early October to observe elections in the State of Chiapas.

"This visit demonstrates Canada's ongoing interest in events in Chiapas," said Mr. Axworthy. "I look forward to hearing about the observers' experiences and impressions upon their return to Canada."

The parliamentarians and AFN representatives will work in close partnership on the mission. Members of the delegation include: Raymonde Folco (Member of Parliament, Laval West); the Honourable Lois Wilson (Senator, Ontario); Deepak Obhrai (Member of Parliament, Calgary East); Richard Marceau (Member of Parliament, Charlesbourg); Ghislain Picard, Assembly of First Nations Vice-Chief (Quebec/Labrador); Maryanne Stoney, Chief, Little Pine First Nation; and Allan Torbitt, Senior Advisor on International Affairs of the Assembly of First Nations.

The observers will meet with federal electoral authorities in Mexico City on October 1, and will then travel to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of Chiapas, where they will meet with the State Electoral Council and representatives of the major political parties. On October 4, they will visit several communities to observe the elections for municipal and state congress representatives. The delegation will return to Canada on October 7.

Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) David Kilgour noted that Mexico's federal co-ordinator for Chiapas, Emilio Rabasa, has been visiting Canada this week. "I welcome Mr. Rabasa's visit on the eve of this observer mission, and I am pleased that he has met with parliamentarians and other groups while in Canada," said Mr. Kilgour.

This is the second Canadian parliamentary delegation to visit Chiapas this year. In May, a multi-party delegation of Members of Parliament visited Chiapas and met a cross-section of government representatives and citizens.

Following that mission, Minister Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation and Minister responsible for La Francophonie Diane Marleau announced that Canada was increasing the Canada Fund allocation for Mexico for 1998/99 to $500 000, an increase of $50 000, and that $100 000 of the total amount would be targeted to support the socio-economic development of Indigenous communities.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Sara Mohsin

Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)

(613) 992-9404

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca