April 2, 2008
No. 73
The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today welcomed preliminary indications of parliamentary results from Zimbabwe's elections, held on March 29:
"According to off ficial results, the ZANU-PF party of Robert Mugabe has lost its majority in Parliament. This opens a window of opportunity for real and significant democratic change in Zimbabwe. Specifically, we look to the new Zimbabwean government to implement policy c hanges that will improve the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
"We continue to urge Zimbabwean authorities to respect the will of the electorate and to release accurate results of the presidential election without further delay.
"Canada commends the Zimbabwean people, who have remained calm and peaceful in the face of inexplicable delays. We call upon Zimbabwe's leaders to seize this critical opportunity for positive change in a manner that respects freedom, dem ocracy, human rights and the rule of law."
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For a previous news release on this topic, see:
http://w01.international.gc.ca/MinPub/Publication.aspx?isRedirect=True&Language=E&publication_id=386021&docnumber=72
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