NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY TO ATTEND 52ND SESSION OFUNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
September 23, 1997 No. 152
AXWORTHY TO ATTEND 52ND SESSION OF
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will attend the 52nd Session of the United
Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York from September 24 to 26 and from
October 1 to 3. The Minister will deliver Canada's speech to the General Assembly
on the afternoon of September 25.
"Canada has always supported the UN and has taken a leading role in its activities
over the past 51 years. The UN has grown considerably since 1945. Canada's foreign
policy has helped shape this evolution, and the UN remains, for us, the most vital
multilateral forum," said Mr. Axworthy. "Canada is committed to continuing this
tradition, which is why we are seeking a seat on the UN Security Council for
1999/2000. Our resulting capacity to influence the direction and policies of the
UN, particularly on peacekeeping, peacebuilding and other human security issues,
would be greatly enhanced."
The Minister will take advantage of his time at UNGA to advance international
support for the newly negotiated treaty banning anti-personnel landmines, which
was adopted in Oslo, Norway, last week. On Friday, September 26, the Norwegian
Foreign Minister, Bjoern Tore Godal, will formally hand over the treaty to
Mr. Axworthy in a ceremony at the UN.
During the first leg of his visit, Mr. Axworthy will meet with Secretary-General
Kofi Annan to offer his support for the UN reform package the Secretary-General
announced last July. He will also meet with his P-8 counterparts (G-7 countries
plus Russia) as a follow-up to their last meeting at the Denver Summit in June.
The Minister and his Dutch counterpart Mr. Hans Van Mierlo will also co-chair a
meeting of "Friends of Rapid Deployment," a group of countries, intent on
improving the UN's capacity to contribute to global peace and security. Their
objective is to examine practical approaches to implementing the recommendations
of Canada's 1995 report, Towards a Rapid Reaction Capability for the United
Nations.
Mr. Axworthy will also meet with a number of other foreign ministers, including
those of Bolivia, Panama and Paraguay, in their capacities as representatives of
the Rio Group, a forum of 14 Central and South American countries. In addition, he
will take part in a meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-Russia Permanent Joint Council. This will be the first meeting of this group since
it was established last July at the NATO summit in Paris.
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Minister Axworthy's UNGA program is attached.
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
András Vamos-Goldman
Counsellor (Political Affairs)
Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations
(212) 848-1100 ext. 3760
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
VISIT OF THE HONOURABLE LLOYD AXWORTHY
CANADIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
TO THE 52ND UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
MEDIA PROGRAM
Thursday, September 25
8:30-9:50 Breakfast meeting with the Central American Foreign Ministers (incl.
Belize and Panama)
8:30-8:35 Photo opportunity
10:00-11:15 Meeting with the Rio Group Troika (Bolivia, Paraguay and Panama)
10:00-10:05 Photo opportunity
16:30 approx. Speech by the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, Canada's Minister of
Foreign Affairs, to the UN General Assembly
Location: General Assembly Hall
Note: UN Broadcast Centre numbers for audio/video feed:
1. TV feed: Waterfront 1646 or at Switch UNN1
2. Audio: (212) 963-7656
3. Radio line: (212) 963-7646
17:00 approx. Media availability -- Delegates Entrance
Exact time Meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan,
TBC Photo opportunity at beginning of meeting
20:30 Dinner in honour of the P-8 hosted by the U.S.
Photo opportunity at beginning of dinner
Location: National Academy of Design
1083 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street
Friday, September 26
9:00 NATO/Russia Permanent Joint Council Ministerial Meeting
Photo opportunity during first 10 minutes of meeting
Location: ECOSOC Chamber at UN Headquarters
9:10 Closed session of the NATO/Russia PJC begins
11:05 NATO/Russia PJC: "Family portrait"
Photo opportunity
Location: Indonesian Lounge
11:15 Hand-over ceremony of Landmine Treaty from Norwegian government to Canadian
government
In attendance: Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Norwegian Foreign
Minister Bjoern Tore Godal
Participating by video link from Geneva: President of the International Committee
of the Red Cross, Cornelio Sommaruga
Location: UN Press Conference Room, Rm 226
Audio/video feed available
Wednesday, October 1
16:30 Bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Ukraine and President of the General Assembly
Photo opportunity at beginning of meeting
Location: GA200, Office of the President of the General Assembly
Thursday, October 2
16:15 Bilateral meeting with H.E. Mrs. Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State of
the United States
Photo opportunity and media availability (TBC)
Note: While in New York, Minister Axworthy will also be meeting with Foreign
Ministers from the Netherlands, the Philippines, Central America, the Rio Group,
Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Guyana, Turkey, Jordan, Bangladesh, Cuba and Hungary.
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