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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">September 24, 2004 <i>(9:30 a.m. EDT)</i> No. 111</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 PETTIGREW TO TRAVEL TO HAITI</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that he will travel to
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from September 29 to 30.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“Canada is playing a key role in the international effort to stabilize and rebuild Haiti,”
said Minister Pettigrew. “While progress has been made, there is still much work to be
done to establish sustainable security and rule of law in the country. Canada is
committed to remaining involved in Haiti for the long term and bringing support to the
residents of the country. This visit will also allow us to assess the challenges facing the
Haitian people in the aftermath of the terrible floods of the past few days.”</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">During the two-day trip, Minister Pettigrew will hold numerous meetings with
representatives of the interim Haitian government and members of Haitian political
parties and civil society. Talks will cover the implementation of the two-year Interim
Cooperation Framework (ICF) for the reconstruction of Haiti, presented to the
international community in July 2004, and the need for a national dialogue and political
reconciliation. The Minister will also meet with the Special Representative of the United
Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti
(MINUSTAH), Juan Gabriel Valdes, to discuss how the mission is providing assistance
to the Haitian government. Canada is contributing 100 police officers as part of
MINUSTAH. Deployment began in mid-July and will be completed by the end of
October 2004.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">While in Haiti, Minister Pettigrew will also officially open the new location of the
Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada is contributing more than $180 million over two years to Haiti’s reconstruction
and development effort. This contribution includes a pledge of close to $147 million in
support of the Government of Haiti’s ICF.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">On September 22, 2004, the Government of Canada announced a contribution of
$2 million in support of humanitarian and relief efforts to help the storm victims. Canada
also sent emergency relief items to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies, airlifted on a CC-130 Hercules transport aircraft provided by the
Canadian Forces.</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>
<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">Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123090721/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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