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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">October 17, 2007 <i>(4:30 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 143</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA SALUTES NOBEL LAUREATE AUNG SAN SUU KYI OF
BURMA</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today made the following
statement regarding the government’s motion to confer honorary citizenship on Nobel
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, for her ongoing struggle to promote freedom and
democracy in Burma:</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Aung San Suu Kyi is an inspiration to all of us. A political prisoner for most of the last
18 years, she has never wavered in her pursuit of freedom and democracy for Burma.
Prime Minister Harper has presented a motion in Parliament to confer on her an
honorary citizenship to recognize and support her long, courageous battle.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada stands alongside those who share our founding values of freedom,
democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Canada has repeatedly condemned the
use of force by the Burmese regime against peaceful protesters. Today’s motion by the
Prime Minister reinforces our consistent calls to the government of Burma, through the
United Nations and other means, to release all political prisoners, including Aung San
Suu Kyi, to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of
Burma, and to engage in a genuine dialogue with the democratic opposition.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada strongly supports the visits of Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Secretary-General’s
Special Envoy, to Burma and to the region. We call on the government of Burma to
facilitate his work.”</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071116101342/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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