April 13, 2012 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“Canada condemns the recent military coup in Guinea-Bissau. The perpetrators of this coup must immediately withdraw and allow the democratic process to continue.
“I am concerned that many senior figures from the Government of Guinea-Bissau, including the interim president, have been arrested. Canada calls for their immediate release.
“The people of Guinea-Bissau deserve their democratic voices to be heard, the rule of law to be obeyed, and differences resolved by dialogue, not force.”
Guinea-Bissau was scheduled to complete the second round of presidential elections on April 29, 2012.
The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs), added:
“Canadian citizens in Guinea-Bissau who require emergency consular assistance should contact the Embassy of Canada to Senegal in Dakar at +221 33 889 4700. Alternatively, they can call Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Emergency Operations Centre collect, at 613-996-8885, or send an email to sos@international.gc.ca.”
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