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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">November 19, 2004 <i>(3:45 p.m. EST)</i> No. 132</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 CALLS FOR FREE, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT
ELECTION IN UKRAINE</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 called for a free, fair and transparent
election in Ukraine on November 21. Voters there are returning to the polls for a second
round after the initial polls on October 31. Minister Pettigrew announced that he is
pleased with the first-round voter turnout of 75 percent, but is concerned that many
electoral process deficiencies impeded a transparent vote.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“As the Ukrainian people proceed to the November runoff vote, Canadians are watching
with a great deal of interest and are hopeful that this vote will be conducted in a free,
fair and transparent manner,” said Minister Pettigrew. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">During the first round of voting, international observers identified voting irregularities
such as inaccurate voters’ lists, insufficient time to correct them, court challenges and
significant media bias.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe has mobilized more than 600 international election
observers, including 36 Canadians, to visit polling stations and tabulation centres.</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/20071207020403/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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