CANADA WELCOMES ACCRA III AGREEMENT ON CÔTE D'IVOIRE

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July 31, 2004 No. 85 Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew today said he is pleased with the signing of an agreement between all Ivorian parties. The agreement, negotiated in the presence of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and a number of African heads of state, makes it possible to resume the peace process, which has been deadlocked since March 2004. “This agreement is an important step toward national reconciliation and the return of peace to Côte d’Ivoire,” said Mr. Pettigrew. “We urge all parties to implement the agreement in its entirety.” “We also call on all Ivorian leaders to cooperate with the International Commission of Inquiry on human rights violations in Côte d’Ivoire. Canada is still very concerned about the repeated human rights violations and the impunity that prevails in the country,” added the Minister. The Commission arrived in Abidjan in mid-July 2004. Mr. Pettigrew recognized the important role of the UN, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union in the outcome of the discussions. The summit was held in Accra, Ghana’s capital city. This agreement is the third concluded in Accra since the Ivorian crisis broke out in September 2002. On September 29, 2002, ECOWAS decided to create a high-level “contact group” as mediator and to deploy a peace force to Côte d’Ivoire. Then, on March 8, 2003, representatives from the main Ivorian political parties and former rebels reached a compromise on the makeup of the Government of National Reconciliation. To find out more about relations between Canada and Côte d’Ivoire, please visit http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/africa/cote_ivoire-en.asp. - 30 - For further information, media representatives may contact: Sébastien Théberge Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (613) 995-1851 Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada (613) 995-1874 http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca

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2016-12-15

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CANADA WELCOMES ACCRA III AGREEMENT ON CÔTE D'IVOIRE

News Release

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