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N E W S R E L E A S E
Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association Encourages Ottawa, February 2nd, 2011 – On its recent three-country visit to Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo, a delegation of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association learned first-hand about the challenges the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is facing in dealing with the political stalemate in Côte d’Ivoire. The Association encourages the ECOWAS States to continue working together to find a solution that respects the will of the Ivorian people. From January 16 to 22, seven members of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, led by the Association Co-Chairs, the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, P.C., M.P., and the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, Senator, visited Nigeria, Ghana, and Togo. They were accompanied by Ms. Yasmin Ratansi, M.P., Mr. David Christopherson, M.P., Mrs. Lois Brown, M.P., the Honourable Jim Munson, Senator, and Ms. Cheryl Gallant, M.P. The delegation met with the President of Ghana, H.E. John Evans Atta-Mills; the Prime Minister of Togo, H.E. Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo; the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Henry Odein Ajumogobia; and the Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Honourable Elliott Ohin. The delegation also met with parliamentarians, ECOWAS officials, members of civil society organizations, business representatives, and the news media. The Côte d’Ivoire Presidential election of 28 November 2010 was declared by the Independent Electoral Commission to have been won by Mr. Alassane Ouattara, but the result was contested by the out-going President, Mr. Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to concede power. The delegation was encouraged by the efforts being made by the three countries to work with their ECOWAS partners in addressing this political stalemate despite many complicating factors. The delegation noted that the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have taken a common position, as expressed in their Final Communiqué of 24 December 2010 (http://ecowas.int/publications/en/communique_final/session_extra/Communique_Final_CI_election.pdf), recognizing the status of Mr. Ouattara as the legitimate President of Côte d’Ivoire and in demanding the immediate and peaceful handover of power by the out-going President, Mr. Gbagbo. The delegation encourages the ECOWAS States to continue working together to find a solution to the political stalemate and hopes that through their efforts the will of the Ivorian people will be respected. Established in 2003, the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association promotes exchanges between African and Canadian parliamentarians, proposes initiatives likely to lead to better mutual understanding of national and international problems, and works to develop cooperation in all the fields of human activity. In addition, the Association works to develop ties with regional parliamentary groupings and the Pan-African Parliament. - 30 - For information, please contact: The
Honourable Mauril Bélanger, P.C., M.P., Co-Chair of the Canada-Africa The
Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, Senator, Co-Chair of the Canada-Africa Mr.
Maxime Ricard, Association Secretary, Canada-Africa
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