Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon announced on Sunday that a Ministerial Preparatory Conference of the Group of Friends of Haiti , major donors and regional and multilateral partners will be held on Monday in Montreal. Cannon told a news briefing in Ottawa that the conference will focus on an overview of what's happening on the ground and the "critical first steps" in rebuilding the earthquake-ravaged country in the long term. Cannon, who will chair the meeting, said that a larger donor coordination conference on reconstruction is expected to take place in the coming months. Canada is committed to working with the international community to establish a clear and common vision for the early recovery and longer-term reconstruction of Haiti, he said. "This meeting will be the first step in reaching that goal." Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, who was expected to arrive in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon, has expressed his support ...
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