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NATO SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT CANADA

April 9, 1997 No. 65

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT CANADA

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister of National Defence Douglas Young today announced that His Excellency Javier Solana, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), will be in Ottawa on April 10 and 11.

"NATO is at a pivotal stage in its evolution and Canada, along with other Allies, has vital decisions to make over the next few months, including which countries to invite to join the Alliance," said Minister Axworthy. "I am looking forward to my discussions with Mr. Solana and to hearing from him regarding his meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Primakov."

"The NATO Alliance is currently addressing a number of major issues, and Canada is committed to working with its partners to help address these challenges including NATO's role in peacekeeping missions," said Minister Young. "Mr. Solana is playing a key negotiating role in this transition period, and I look forward to discussing the ongoing progress and benefiting from his insights on the complex issues involved."

This will be Mr. Solana's second trip to Canada as NATO Secretary General since assuming his position in December 1995; he previously visited Ottawa in February, 1996. During this visit he will meet with Ministers Axworthy and Young as well as parliamentarians, academics and other Canadians concerned with transatlantic security. Ministers Axworthy and Young will also discuss NATO relations with Ukraine and the Stabilization Force in Bosnia with Mr. Solana.

Mr. Solana has been meeting with ministers and officials of NATO member countries over the past several months as the Alliance prepares for the key decision on expanded membership.

Canada is one of 16 members of NATO, which was created in 1949 to provide collective transatlantic security. Although its focus has changed since the end of the Cold War, NATO continues to play a high-profile role in European peace and security. Canada has participated in peacekeeping operations in the Balkans since 1992 and currently has 1250 personnel serving with the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Catherine Lappe

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

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Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Lorna Counsell

Office of the Minister of Defence

(613) 996-3100