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<title>CANADA SENDS OBSERVER TEAM TO KOSOVO</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">August 21, 1998 No. 197</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA SENDS OBSERVER TEAM TO KOSOVO</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and National Defence Minister Art Eggleton
today announced that Canada has sent a two-person team to monitor and observe the
volatile situation in Kosovo.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Major John Sheahan and Foreign Service Officer Gavin Buchan arrived in the area
this week to be part of the international Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission,
which includes representatives from the European Union, Russia and the United
States. They will be working directly with the Canadian Ambassador in Belgrade for
an indefinite period, and providing regular reports on activities in the area.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Given the volatility in the region, it is vital that Canada have a means of
collecting firsthand information on what is occurring," said Minister Eggleton.
"The team's mission is yet another way that Canada is helping to make a
difference." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"We hope that the Canadian team's arrival will demonstrate the importance that
Canada accords to ending the cycle of violence in the region, and that the
presence of these international observers will encourage the belligerent factions
in Kosovo to show some restraint," said Minister Axworthy. "The plight of refugees
and ongoing human rights abuses in Kosovo highlight the fact that we must remain
vigilant in order to resolve this situation." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy added that President Milosevic must understand that only dialogue and
respect for human rights will lead to an end to the armed rebellion. Inflexibility
and the refusal by the government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to conduct
talks will only lead to further radicalization among the Kosovars.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada's direct involvement in the former Yugoslavia dates back to 1991. Since
that time, more than 20 000 Canadians have served in Croatia and Bosnia with the
UN and NATO. There are currently close to 1 250 Canadian Forces members
participating in Bosnia with NATO's Stabilization Force. In addition, Canada has
130 personnel and six CF-18 fighter aircraft based in Aviano, Italy. Thirty
Canadian police officers serve in the UN International Police Task Force. Canada
has been participating in overflights of Bosnia to enforce the NATO no-fly zone,
and is currently involved in a joint military exercise in Albania with 14 other
countries as part of NATO's Partners for Peace initiative.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Nicole Bourget</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of National Defence</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 996-3100</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Liaison Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of National Defence</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 996-2353</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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