NEWS RELEASES
WINDSOR TO HOST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OAS IN 2000
June 7, 1999 (11:00 a.m. EDT) No. 131
WINDSOR TO HOST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OAS IN 2000
Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray and Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Windsor, Ontario, will be
the host city for the 30th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) from June 4 to 6, 2000. This will mark
both the first time that Canada will host the OAS General Assembly, which is held at the level of foreign minister, and Canada's
10th anniversary as a member of the Organization.
"I am very pleased and especially proud that Windsor will be 'hosting the hemisphere' at the first OAS General Assembly of the
new millennium," said Mr. Gray. "Hosting this important international event is an opportunity to showcase our city and our country,
and to share with our hemispheric partners all we have to offer as a neighbour and partner of the Americas." The Deputy Prime
Minister noted that Windsor can expect to receive about 700 people at this event, approximately 500 of whom will be official
delegates.
"Over the past nine years, Canada has become an influential and respected voice within the Organization, and has succeeded in
putting human security firmly on the OAS agenda," said Mr. Axworthy. "Hosting next year's General Assembly will enable Canada
to put greater emphasis on its priorities in the OAS, such as hemispheric integration, civil society participation, democratic
development and the fight against drugs."
The OAS is the western hemisphere's principal forum for political, social and economic dialogue. Joining the OAS has enabled
Canada to become an active and influential partner in the hemisphere, and to advance such key foreign policy objectives as human
security, human rights, democratization, economic integration, environmental protection and sustainable development.
Canada will host the Americas on a number of occasions over the next two years. Winnipeg will welcome the youth of the
hemisphere to the Pan American Games in July; the ninth Conference of Spouses of Heads of State and Government of the
Americas will be held in Ottawa in September; the Free Trade Area of the Americas Trade Ministers Meeting and the fifth
Americas Business Forum will take place in Toronto this fall; and Canada will receive leaders at the AmericasCanada Summit --
the third Summit of the Americas -- to be held in Quebec City in 2001.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Garry Fortune
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
(613) 952-4904
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
| 
