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<title>MINISTER GRAHAM CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>December 7, 2002 <em>(7:00 p.m.</em></strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong><em> EST)</em> No. 167</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>MINISTER GRAHAM CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA</strong></font><font size="+1"><strong></strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today said that Canada is deeply saddened by the violence and loss of
life that occurred yesterday in Venezuela as a consequence of ongoing political confrontation. The Minister
encouraged all parties to pursue peaceful and democratic means to resolve their political differences. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"I wish to convey, on behalf of all Canadians, my condolences to the families of the victims," said Minister
Graham. "We call for an immediate end to political violence, and a commitment by all Venezuelans to the
spirit of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.</font><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff"> </font><font face="Arial">We therefore urge all parties to immediately resume dialogue,
and strongly reaffirm Canada's full support for the efforts of the Secretary General of the Organization of
American States (OAS), César Gaviria, to facilitate peaceful solutions."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"> </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Minister added that the Government of Canada supports the OAS mission to foster dialogue and
negotiation in Venezuela as the best way of finding a peaceful, democratic solution</font><font face="Arial" color="#0000ff">.</font><font face="Arial"> Previous such missions
have successfully encouraged other member states in crisis to affirm their commitment to democracy.</font></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/20070221121131/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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