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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>July 16, 2004 <em>(2:10 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 79</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>GRAHAM COMMENTS ON<br>
SITUATION IN DARFUR, SUDAN</strong></font></p>
<p>Following discussions yesterday with Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mustafa Ismail, in
which he urged the Sudanese government to take immediate and concrete steps to
resolve the conflict in Darfur, and also with German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer,
following Minister Fischer's recent trip to Sudan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham
today offered this statement:</p>
<p>"We must all work together to end the terrible violence in Darfur, and to see that
humanitarian assistance reaches those who are in need.</p>
<p>"I am encouraged by the African Union's leadership in facilitating the negotiations that
commenced yesterday in Addis Ababa among the parties to the conflict. I have been
assured by Minister Mustafa of the Sudanese government's commitment to resolve this
conflict. We discussed how Canada can continue to support efforts to resolve the
conflict and alleviate the suffering of so many innocent civilians. </p>
<p>"I urged Minister Mustafa to address urgently the security issues affecting the internally
displaced in Darfur. It remains the responsibility of the Sudanese government to disarm
the Janjaweed and to protect the civilian population. The Government must address
serious human rights violations, and prevent further war crimes and crimes against
humanity from occurring in the region. Canada and the international community will be
watching closely to observe the Government of Sudan's commitment to implement the
joint communiqué it signed on July 3 with the United Nations.</p>
<p>"Minister Fischer and I discussed the importance of urgent action in Darfur, while
emphasizing to the Sudanese government that its actions must not endanger the
impending comprehensive peace agreement to end the long-standing civil war in
southern Sudan. We agreed that sustained humanitarian assistance to those suffering
in Darfur and Chad must be coupled with international pressure for a political settlement
to the conflict as soon as possible.</p>
<p>"Canada has made considerable efforts through diplomatic channels and through
CIDA's rapid response to the humanitarian crisis. Prime Minister Paul Martin has
communicated to the Sudanese President Canada's concerns with the situation in
Darfur. Senator Mobina Jaffer, Canada's Special Envoy to the Sudanese Peace
Process, has also registered concerns. At our diplomatic mission in New York,
Ambassador Allan Rock is working with members of the UN Security Council and
General Assembly to bring an end to this terrible conflict."</p>
<p>The United Nations has described the humanitarian situation in Darfur as one of the
worst in the world. In February 2003, a new civil conflict broke out in the western region
of Darfur between the Government of Sudan and rebel groups, in parallel with the long-standing southern civil war in Sudan. The conflict in Darfur has been marked by large
population displacements (more than 1.2 million people), an estimated 175,000
refugees who have fled to Chad, and widespread violations of human rights.</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>
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071207022328/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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