NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY TO ATTEND NORDIC-BALTIC MEETING AND CANADA-EU MEETING DURING VISITS TO GREENLAND, ICELAND, FINLAND AND LATVIA
August 24, 1999 (5:00 p.m. EDT) No. 187
AXWORTHY TO ATTEND NORDIC-BALTIC MEETING
AND CANADA-EU MEETING DURING VISITS TO
GREENLAND, ICELAND, FINLAND AND LATVIA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced visits to Greenland, Iceland, Finland and Latvia from
August 27 to September 2, 1999, to coincide with his participation in a Nordic-Baltic foreign ministers' meeting
and in a Canada-European Union (EU) ministerial meeting.
The Nordic-Baltic meeting, which includes the participation of the Foreign Affairs ministers of the five Nordic
Council members (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) and the three Baltic countries (Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania), will take place August 30 in Egilsstadir, Iceland. The Canada-EU meeting will take place
September 2 in Helsinki, Finland, the country currently holding the EU presidency.
"Canada has been reviewing its northern foreign policy with the aim of improving co-operation between
northern nations," said Mr. Axworthy. "These visits and meetings present timely opportunities to pursue that
agenda and ensure we work together on the distinctive issues of the North."
In Nuuk on August 28, Minister Axworthy will meet with representatives of the Greenland Home Rule
government, including Premier Motzfeldt, to discuss northern policy issues and examine ways to expand the
cultural and economic ties between Canada and Greenland.
In Egilsstadir on August 30, Mr. Axworthy will first take part in a ministerial meeting with his Nordic and Baltic
counterparts where he will make a presentation on human security -- an area of common concern and one of
Canada's main priorities -- and promote Canada's international agenda. The Minister will then proceed to
Reykjavik on August 31 to meet with Prime Minister Oddsson and with Foreign Affairs Minister Asgrimsson and
discuss a number of global and bilateral issues, such as air relations, joint northern issues, Canada-Iceland
millennium celebrations, the Arctic Council, the current negotiation of a free trade agreement between Canada
and the European Free Trade Association and Iceland's agenda as chair of the Nordic Council and of the
Council of Europe.
On the first day of his Helsinki visit, September 1, Minister Axworthy will meet with President Ahtisaari, Prime
Minister Lipponen and Foreign Affairs Minister Halonen
to discuss northern policy co-operation, respective approaches to human security and conflict prevention,
measures to counter the proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the ban on anti-personnel
landmines. He will also sign an amendment to the Canada-Finland Air Agreement and address the Paasikivi
Society.
On September 2, Minister Axworthy will take part in a Canada-EU meeting with Finnish Foreign Affairs Minister
Halonen, who currently presides over the Council of Ministers of the EU, and Sir Leon Brittan, acting
Vice-President of the European Commission. Discussions will focus on co-operation on global human security
issues and peace and stability in Southeast Europe. Other issues to be raised include: the upcoming
EU-Canada seminar on circumpolar co-operation, scheduled in October; Europe's efforts to develop a common
European security and defence policy; and the impact of EU agricultural policies on Canadian farmers.
Minister Axworthy will then proceed to Riga, capital of Latvia, where he will meet with President Vike-Freiberga
and Foreign Affairs Minister Berzins to reaffirm Canada's long-time commitment to Latvia's independence and
security, and to promote the strengthening of Canada-Latvia trade links.
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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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