NEWS RELEASES
SECRETARY OF STATE STEWART TO ATTEND26TH OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN PANAMA
May 30, 1996 No. 100
SECRETARY OF STATE STEWART TO ATTEND
26th OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN PANAMA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Secretary of State
(Latin America and Africa) Christine Stewart will attend the 26th General Assembly
of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama City, June 2 to 7, 1996.
"In the past few years, the OAS has demonstrated its determination to take action
and assert leadership in matters of the highest regional and global importance,"
said Mrs. Stewart. "The 1996 General Assembly marks a year of significant
achievement for the Organization."
Canada has played an active role in advancing many of the issues on the OAS
agenda. Canada will seek the support of OAS members for continued international
involvement in Haiti, to ensure the full entrenchment of peace and democracy in
that country. Canada will also co-sponsor a resolution to achieve a global ban on
anti-personnel land mines and to take specific action within the hemisphere to
advance this goal. In addition, Canada has been instrumental in bringing about
the full-scale restructuring of the OAS' technical co-operation regime, which will
culminate in the launching, at this assembly, of the new Inter-American Council
for Integral Development.
While in Panama, Mrs. Stewart will meet with Panamanian ministers, and senior
representatives from the Caribbean and Central and South America. She will also
participate in a meeting of Foreign Ministers to review progress in implementing
the December 1994 Summit of the Americas' Plan of Action.
Mrs. Stewart will also announce Canada's offer to host the OAS General Assembly in
2000, which will mark Canada's 10th year of membership.
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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
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