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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>January 30, 2004 <em>(6:15 p.m. EST)</em> No. 15</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>GRAHAM WELCOMES UN APPOINTMENT ON ERITREA-ETHIOPIA
BORDER DISPUTE</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today welcomed United Nations Secretary-General
Kofi Annan's appointment of Lloyd Axworthy as his Special Envoy for Ethiopia and
Eritrea. Mr. Axworthy was Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 2000.</p>
<p>"I strongly support Secretary-General Annan's efforts to promote dialogue and a
sustainable peace between these key regional states," said Minister Graham.
"Mr. Axworthy is eminently qualified to work with Eritrea and Ethiopia to consolidate
peace under the provisions of the Algiers Agreement." </p>
<p>Tension in the region has increased in the last year because of the implementation of
the ruling of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, which was mandated to
determine the location of the border between the two countries. The Commission was
established under the Algiers Agreement, signed in 2000, that concluded a bitter war
between the two countries. The body is composed of an equal number of
representatives of each country as well as a UN designated expert. Both countries
committed in advance that the Commission's ruling would be final and binding. </p>
<p>Minister Graham reiterated Canada's support for the position enunciated by the United
Nations Security Council last year that any discussions regarding the border must take
place in the context of the implementation of the ruling of the Boundary Commission.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<multicol cols="2" gutter="46">
<p>Isabelle Savard</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071207012530/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></multicol>
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