<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title></title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>April 2, 2004 <em>(2:50 p.m. EST)</em> No. 52</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>GRAHAM CALLS ON IVORIANS TO COOPERATE WITH UN
OPERATION IN CÔTE D'IVOIRE</strong> </font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today called upon all Ivorian officials to cooperate
fully with the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), which will begin its
mandate on April 4. </p>
<p>"Our hope is that the UNOCI will help restore a climate of confidence that will facilitate
disarmament and the implementation of the reforms set out in the Linas-Marcoussis
Agreement," said Minister Graham. "Following the renewed outbreak of violence in Côte
d'Ivoire, we urge all parties to resume dialogue. It is incumbent upon all Ivorian
institutions, including the government of national reconciliation and the National
Assembly, to take concrete steps to rekindle the peace process and pave the way for
fair and transparent elections in 2005."</p>
<p>Canada is concerned about reports indicating serious human rights violations against
civilians and law enforcement officers during an opposition protest in Abidjan on
March 25, 2004, and in the days that followed. "Canada applauds the decision of the
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish an International
Commission of Inquiry responsible for shedding light on the incidents of March 25,"
stated Minister Graham. "We also wish to remind the Ivorian government of its
commitment to end impunity through the creation of a National Human Rights
Commission and an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate human rights
violations committed during the conflict."<font size="-1"> </font></p>
<p>"We are also asking the Ivorian government to do everything in its power to ensure an
environment of freedom and security in which Ivorian and foreign journalists can carry
out their work," added Minister Graham. </p>
<p>The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire is a peacekeeping mission that will
include approximately 6,240 military personnel and up to 350 civilian police. The
UNOCI's civilian police component will be under the command of a senior Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer. Canada will also send a contingent of nine
police officers to the mission. This contribution by Canada is being made under the
Canadian Police Arrangement, managed jointly by the Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade, the RCMP, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Isabelle Savard<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office<br>
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123084954/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
</body>
</html>
