News Release

Minister O’Connor traveling to Taormina, Italy for informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers

NR-06.004 - February 8, 2006

OTTAWA — Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor is traveling to Taormina, Italy for an informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on February 9 to 10.

Minister O’Connor will meet with his colleagues to discuss a number of issues to lay the groundwork for the NATO Summit in Riga, Latvia, in November 2006. Discussions will include ongoing NATO operations and the NATO Response Force, as well as a range of regional security and cooperation issues to be addressed through the NATO-Russia Council and the Mediterranean Dialogue.

The Italian Defence Minister, Mr. Antonio Martino, will chair the informal meetings under the chairmanship of the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

-30-

Note to editors:

For more information on this event visit the NATO web site.