NEWS RELEASES
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER OF ICELAND TO VISIT CANADA
May 14, 1996 No. 91
FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER OF ICELAND TO VISIT CANADA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy announced today that Halldor Asgrimsson,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iceland, will pay a working visit
to Ottawa on May 15.
As well as paving the way for this July's Arctic Council, their talks will focus
on bilateral issues of common interest, such as NATO and European security, the
intensification of transatlantic relations, trade relations between the two
countries and fisheries.
"Mr. Asgrimsson's arrival in Canada on Icelandair Airlines' inaugural Reykjavik-Halifax flight, late today, will pave the way for closer links between our two
countries. The diversification of our economies will inevitably benefit both
sides, beginning with the tourism sector," said Mr. Axworthy.
By attracting visitors from the Nordic countries and elsewhere in Europe, the new
air link between Iceland and Canada should have a positive impact on the tourism
industry in the Atlantic provinces. "To this end, the Canadian government has
recently participated in a tourism promotion campaign," said Mr. Axworthy.
Canada and Iceland enjoy excellent relations, reinforced by the presence of some
70 000 Canadians of Icelandic origin. Iceland has a population of about 270 000.
Mr. Asgrimsson will be accompanying Her Excellency Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the
President of Iceland, to Canada. The President will be in Halifax until May 16,
when she will receive an honorary doctorate in Civil Law from Saint Mary's
University.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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