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<title>CANADA CONDEMNS ASSASSINATIONS IN COLOMBIA</title>
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<p><font size="+1"><strong>May 6, 2003 <em>(5:00 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 52</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>CANADA CONDEMNS ASSASSINATIONS IN COLOMBIA</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today condemned the May 5 assassinations of a provincial governor, a former
minister of defence and eight soldiers all of whom were held hostage by Colombia's largest guerrilla group, the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).</p>
<p>"The Government of Canada forcefully repudiates these cruel and barbaric killings," said Minister Graham. "We extend our
sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families and to all Colombians who are seeking an end to violence in their country.
Canada stands ready to assist the Government of Colombia and the international community in resolving the conflict in a
manner that brings peace and justice to all Colombians, and with full respect for human rights." </p>
<p>Guillermo Gaviria, Governor of Antioquia, and Gilberto Echeverri, Peace Commissioner of Antioquia and Defence
Minister under former President Ernesto Samper, were kidnapped by FARC in April 2002 as they led a peace march. The
eight soldiers had been held by FARC for periods as long as six years. </p>
<p>FARC is holding hundreds of prisoners in jungle camps throughout Colombia, including soldiers, former congressmen,
former Presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and three Americans captured when their surveillance plane crashed in
FARC-held territory in February.</p>
<p>Canada will continue to work with Colombia through multilateral mechanisms to strengthen and safeguard its democratic
institutions to fight terrorism in all its forms.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
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<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/20070221183554/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></multicol>
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