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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">September 22, 2007 <i>(11:15 a.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 128</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">MINISTER BERNIER TO ATTEND UNITED NATIONS GENERAL
ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be in New York from
September 23 to 29 and on October 2 to attend the opening of the 62nd session of the
UN General Assembly.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“The opening of the UN General Assembly brings together leaders from around the
world to discuss important global issues,” said Minister Bernier. “Canada is a robust
contributor to international peace and security with investments in Afghanistan, Haiti
and Sudan. In addition to reaffirming Canada’s support of the UN missions in these
countries, I look forward to meeting with my counterparts to advance Canadian priorities
on issues of human rights, the Middle East, and UN management reform.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“While at the General Assembly, I intend to emphasize Canada’s commitment to the
emergence of a stable, free and more prosperous Afghanistan. I will call upon the
international community to work together to assist the government and people of
Afghanistan as they endeavour to bring peace and stability to their country.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Minister will pursue an ambitious program of bilateral meetings with foreign
ministers, as well as meetings with multilateral groups, including the G8 and the
Commonwealth. Mr. Bernier will deliver Canada’s address to the General Assembly on
the morning of October 2, 2007.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will also be
in New York on September 21 and 22 to represent Canada at a number of high-level
multilateral meetings. </span></span></p>
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<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>
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<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/20071116072110/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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