NEWS RELEASES
CANADA AND U.S. TO RESUME SALMON TALKS
May 23, 1997 No. 95
CANADA AND U.S. TO RESUME SALMON TALKS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy announced today that he and U.S. Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright have agreed that negotiations on the Pacific salmon
dispute will resume May 30. Neither side has set any preconditions for
relaunching the negotiations.
"The United States will return to the table with a full mandate to negotiate,"
said Mr. Axworthy after a telephone conversation with Ms. Albright. "The chief
U.S. negotiator will consult with stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest before
negotiations resume."
Canada suspended talks on May 21 when the U.S. negotiator was unable to advance a
position on one of the key southern issues, Fraser River sockeye.
Mr. Axworthy said the agreement to return to negotiations came after
representations by Raymond Chrétien, Canadian Ambassador to the U.S., to the U.S.
Administration and the Governors of Oregon and Washington and ongoing discussions
over the last few days among senior officials of the two governments.
"Secretary Albright and I agreed that progress had been made in the negotiations
before they reached an impasse on May 21," Mr. Axworthy said. "There is good will
on both sides, but we must settle the outstanding issues. We are facing an
impending deadline -- the beginning of the fishing season."
After the talks broke off on May 21, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
stepped up enforcement of measures requiring foreign vessels to contact Canadian
authorities as they pass through Canadian waters. Under the regulations, vessels
that violate the regulations can be inspected, required to go to a Canadian port
or face arrest, depending on circumstances.
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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
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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