>January 21, 2004 (3:45 p.m. EST) No. 7CANADA PARTICIPATES IN CARICOM MEETING TO ADDRESS SITUATION IN HAITICanada is participating in a CARICOM (Caribbean Community and Common Market)meeting in the Bahamas with leaders of the Haitian opposition and civil society."Canada welcomes CARICOM's proposal to hold this meeting," said Foreign AffairsMinister Bill Graham. "This is an important contribution to the overall efforts of theOrganization of American States (OAS) to help Haiti overcome its current impasse.Canadians want to follow closely the situation on the ground in Haiti." As Chair of CARICOM, the Prime Minister of Jamaica called for the January 20 to 21meeting and invited Canada, the U.S. and the OAS to participate as observers. Theinitiative was discussed during Prime Minister Paul Martin's meeting with his CARICOMcounterparts on January 12, 2004, on the margins of the Special Summit of theAmericas in Monterrey, Mexico. Canada's Ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Cook, and Canada's PermanentRepresentative to the OAS, Ambassador Paul Durand, who is currently Chair of theOAS Permanent Council, are attending. Canada continues to support the Special Mission of the OAS, which aims to strengthendemocracy in Haiti. On December 17, 2003, at the meeting of the Permanent Council ofthe OAS in Washington, Canada recommended that the Special Mission prepare adetailed proposal to reinforce security in Haiti. Canada also proposed that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights study the possibility of establishing an ongoingmonitoring mission in Haiti. - 30 -For further information, media representatives may contact:Isabelle SavardDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Foreign Affairs(613) 995-1851Media Relations OfficeDepartment of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade(613) 995-1874http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
