NEWS RELEASES
NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL AMBASSADORS VISIT CANADA
October 28, 1997 No. 173
NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL AMBASSADORS VISIT CANADA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and National Defence Minister Art Eggleton
today announced that the North Atlantic Council Ambassadors will visit Ottawa
October 28 to 29.
The Council Ambassadors, led by Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), will be briefed on Canada's foreign and
defence policy priorities. Minister Axworthy and Minister Eggleton will meet with
Secretary-General Solana during the visit.
"Canada has been a member of NATO since the organization was founded in 1949.
Since then, Canada has been among the strongly supportive parties, playing an
active, creative and constructive role in the Alliance," said Minister Axworthy.
"Canada is putting its resources toward top priorities. Canada remains a committed
player in the NATO Alliance, which forms one of the basic pillars of Canada's
security structure."
"Today, as ever, we remain committed to the NATO Alliance, as demonstrated by our
significant contribution to NATO's mission in Bosnia," said Minister Eggleton.
"NATO remains an effective instrument for ensuring peace and stability in Europe
and North America; it is living proof that individual nations can work together
toward a common goal. It is for these reasons that the Canadian Forces'
participation in NATO operations will continue to remain strong as the Alliance
approaches its 50th year of existence."
The Council Ambassadors will have an extensive series of discussions on Canada's
role in NATO and on the Canadian political and economic environment. The North
Atlantic Council visit to Canada will provide an opportunity to explain Canada's
approaches to a number of key issues facing the Alliance, including the
enlargement process, relations with Russia and internal NATO reform.
This visit will give the Council the opportunity to obtain a clearer understanding
of Canadian parliamentarians'
preoccupations, and will underline how Canadians regard Canada's role in Europe
and, in particular, in NATO.
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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
Nicole Bourget
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of National Defence
(613) 996-3100
Media Liaison Office
Office of the Minister of National Defence
(613) 996-2353
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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