March 27, 2008
No. 66
The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his official visit to Southern Sudan, today welcomed the initialling of the Final Peace Agreement on March 25, 2008, by the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and the agreement of the parties to sign the Agreement on April 5, 2008.
"As a leading supporter of the talks, Canada welcomes the Agreement, which will bring an end to one of Africa's longest-running conflicts," said Minister Bernier. "This agreement will help to alleviat e the suffering of those affected by this brutal 22-year conflict, one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Canada is committed to supporting the effective and speedy implementation of the Final Peace Agreement over the coming year."
Minister Bernier met today with Dr. Riek Machar, Vice-President of the Government of Southern Sudan and chief mediator of the peace talks, who acknowledged Canada's leading role in advanc ing the peace process.
The conflict between the Government of Uganda and the LRA began in 1986 and has had devastating consequences for the people of the region. An estimated 1.7 million pe ople in northern Uganda have been displaced, tens of thousands of women and children abducted, and more than 300,000 people killed. Warrants of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court for the LRA's top leaders remain outstanding, and Canad a believes strongly that there must be no impunity for those who have committed atrocities.
"The implementation process should foster reconciliation and ensure that individuals who ha ve committed serious international crimes are held accountable in a manner consistent with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court," said Minister Bernier.
Canada has par ticipated in the peace talks as an official observer. In addition, over the past two years, Canada has contributed $8 million in support of the peace process. A team of diplomatic and military experts has worked with the UN in developing a comprehens ive framework for disarmament and demobilization of combatants, as well as in developing the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team, which has played an important role in building confidence between the parties. Additional support has been provided to r espond to the special needs of women and children who have been affected by the conflict.
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