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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">November 7, 2007<br>
SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica<br>
2007/34<br>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="text-decoration: underline">CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY</span></span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">THE HONOURABLE HELENA GUERGIS,</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"> INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SPORT, </span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">AT A RECEPTION IN SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">It is a privilege to be in Costa Rica, a land of remarkable beauty and hospitality and a
bastion of democratic peace and prosperity.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Like many Canadians, I have been worried by the heavy cost the recent rains imposed
in damage and human suffering.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">In preparing for my visit, I took some time to learn about Costa Rica. I read that your
great nation’s motto is: “May Work and Peace Live Forever.” This is an inspiring
message. It is also a call to duty. It speaks of how we should never take prosperity,
security or democracy for granted.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Canada very much agrees. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">As a country of the Americas, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to help our
neighbourhood thrive. This is why the Canadian government is committed to
re-engaging in the Americas for the long term. Our commitment will focus on increasing
prosperity, improving security and promoting our fundamental values of freedom,
democracy, human rights and the rule of law.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The Prime Minister has made it clear: the Americas are a critical international priority for
our country.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Ladies and gentlemen, this month we celebrate the fifth anniversary of the entry into
force of the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement. This arrangement has clearly
benefited both countries. Our two-way trade has increased by more than 40 percent.
Costa Rican exports to Canada reached almost $400 million in 2006. We hope this is
only the beginning of trade growth for our countries.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Canada’s overall experience with free trade has been overwhelmingly positive.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Some years ago, the issue of free trade with the United States was an important
element of one of our Canadian elections. Debate continues about the nature of our
trading relationships, but this is healthy and necessary in a democracy.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Trade is very important, and our success together is worth celebrating. But trade is not
the only thing that matters. Responsible social programs implemented by capable
governments, as well as socially responsible best practices implemented by the private
sector, will ensure that the benefits of free trade are shared widely and democratically. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">This is a key point that Canada’s Prime Minister has been making since his visit to Latin
America and the Caribbean this summer: freedom and economic opportunity must go
hand in hand.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">My visit here has underlined one important example of this widening of opportunity. I
am impressed by the excellent work the Omar Dengo Foundation is doing to empower
women entrepreneurs by helping them shape their own opportunities.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">It is a pleasure to see that funds provided by Canada’s International Development
Research Centre are having such a positive impact in Costa Rica. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Costa Rica’s solid international reputation was confirmed recently when this country
was elected to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Canada
applauds your success, and looks forward to working with you on UN issues. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">On the home front, Costa Rica has demonstrated excellence in its conduct of
democratic elections. Even though your recent referendum was politically controversial,
international observers led by Paul Durand, a former Canadian ambassador to Costa
Rica, were deeply impressed by the professionalism of the voting process.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Tonight we are celebrating a successful economic relationship. But it is part of a
broader architecture that includes governance and security, tourism and
people-to-people connections. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">What we have accomplished so far is remarkable, but what matters more is where we
go from here. Let us pledge to work together in defence of human rights and
democratic freedom, of open markets and open minds, so that work and peace may live
forever.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Thank you.</span></p>
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