NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY TO ATTEND ASEAN MEETINGSAND VISIT THAILAND
July 19, 1999 (6:00 p.m. EDT) No. 163
AXWORTHY TO ATTEND ASEAN MEETINGS
AND VISIT THAILAND
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that he will attend two annual
meetings of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) with its dialogue partners in
Singapore before proceeding to Thailand for a brief visit. The ASEAN gatherings -- the 6th
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the 32nd ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) --
will take place in Singapore from July 25 to 28.
"As an Asia-Pacific nation, Canada has a strong interest in participating in, and contributing to,
discussions of regional political, economic and security issues with the ASEAN and our fellow
dialogue partners," said Mr. Axworthy. "Concerns about the financial crisis in Asia have
dominated the agenda over the past two years. Now that we seem to be facing a gradual but
steady turn-around on that front, it is time to turn our focus to other human security issues that
may affect peace and stability in Asia."
Canada has been an ASEAN dialogue partner since 1977, and Canadian foreign ministers
have participated in the ARF since it was established in 1993 as an informal multilateral forum
on regional security in Asia Pacific. The ARF is immediately followed by the PMC, a forum for
the ASEAN and its 10 dialogue partners to discuss international and regional political and
economic issues. The ARF/PMC agenda items will include security, the challenges faced in
southeast and northeast Asia, and regional concerns, such as the economic and financial
crisis, social safety nets, the environment and transnational issues.
Minister Axworthy will proceed to Bangkok from July 28 to 30, where he will meet with his
counterpart, Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, and Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Rattakul.
"Thailand recently joined the Lysøen Agreement for joint action on human security issues, and
in so doing has become our key partner in the region in advancing this dialogue. I look forward
to discussing with Foreign Minister Surin how human security can be specifically applied to
Asia," said Mr. Axworthy.
Human security will also be on the agenda of Mr. Axworthy's meeting with representatives of Thai non-governmental organizations. The Minister will also meet with Canadians engaged in business in Thailand.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
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
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