(No. 187 - June 11, 2010 - 7:30 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement regarding the recent political events and violence in Kyrgyzstan:
“Canada is concerned by the loss of life that occurred earlier today in Kyrgyzstan.
“We are carefully monitoring the situation. We are in close touch both with our embassy in Kazakhstan, which is accredited to Kyrgyzstan, and with the Canadian Honorary Consul in Bishkek.
“We call on the Kyrgyzstan Provisional Government authorities to restore order; protect all ethnic groups, particularly minorities; and to promote inter-ethnic tolerance in the run-up to the constitutional referendum later this month.”
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against travel to and within Kyrgyzstan’s Osh oblast, due to the recent disturbances. Outside the Osh oblast, the department strongly advises Canadian citizens to limit non-essential movements and to avoid demonstrations and large crowds, including public funerals. They should monitor the situation via local media and follow the advice of local authorities. The department advises against non-essential travel to the country as a whole.
Canadian citizens in Kyrgyzstan requiring emergency consular assistance, and friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be in the country, should contact the Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa by calling 1-800-387-3124 or 613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted from Kyrgyzstan), or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca.
For more information, please consult the Travel Report for Kyrgyzstan regularly for updated information, and to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive the latest advice from the Canadian embassy.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Melissa Lantsman
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
