NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY WELCOMES PROGRESS ON HUMANSECURITY ISSUES AT OAS IN GUATEMALA
June 10, 1999 (5:55 p.m. EDT) No. 139
AXWORTHY WELCOMES PROGRESS ON HUMAN
SECURITY ISSUES AT OAS IN GUATEMALA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today highlighted progress made by Canada in advancing
human security issues at the 29th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS),
held in Guatemala this week. The Canadian delegation was led by Secretary of State (Latin
America and Africa) David Kilgour.
"The OAS is an important forum for pursuing Canada's human security objectives," said
Minister Axworthy. "I am pleased that ministers addressed issues such as the illegal drug trade,
corruption, weapons proliferation and landmines, and that these remain at the forefront of the OAS
agenda. There is a recognition that these threats respect no borders and affect the security of
individuals throughout the hemisphere."
On behalf of Minister Axworthy, Secretary of State Kilgour led discussion among OAS Foreign
Ministers on the problem of illegal drugs in the hemisphere. The Dialogue on Drugs was the
culmination of a consultative process launched by Minister Axworthy in Jamaica in January.
Ministers agreed that the human security concept offers a valuable approach for addressing the drug
issue. Secretary of State Kilgour shared with Foreign Ministers Canada's new publication, Human
Security: Safety for People in a Changing World.
At the OAS meetings, Canada signed two conventions having important implications for the human
security agenda in the Americas: the Inter-American Convention on Transparency in Conventional
Weapons Acquisitions, which requires member states to submit data on exports and imports of
conventional weapons; and the OAS Corruption Convention, which contains a list of acts of
corruption, including bribery, considered to be criminal offences.
"The transparency encouraged by these two conventions represents an important confidence-building measure both globally and regionally, " said Minister Axworthy.
While in Guatemala, Secretary of State Kilgour met with representatives of Canadian civil society
organizations who were attending the General Assembly. He said, "Canada wants to ensure that
civil society can bring its concerns, preoccupations and expertise to the Free Trade Area of the
Americas process, to the work of the OAS and to the Summit of the Americas in 2001." The
Canadian delegation also met with the 32 civil society organizations present at the General
Assembly.
On behalf of Minister Axworthy and Diane Marleau, Minister for International Co-operation and
Minister responsible for La Francophonie, Secretary of State Kilgour announced a $400 000
contribution toward the establishment of a Parliamentary Network of the Americas. The OAS
approved a resolution calling for a meeting of chairs of foreign relations committees in early 2000,
as a first step toward building a formal network among legislators within the framework of the OAS.
The OAS General Assembly is the annual gathering of Foreign Ministers of the 34 democratically
elected countries in the hemisphere. The next General Assembly will be held in Windsor, Ontario,
from June 4 to 6, 2000.
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The publication Human Security: Safety for People in a Changing World is available on the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca /foreignp/HumanSecurity/menu-e.htm
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Sara Mohsin
Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
(613) 992-9404
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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