NEWS RELEASES
GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL FORUM ON CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
June 21, 1996 No. 118
GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL FORUM
ON CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Minister for International Trade Art
Eggleton, and Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for
la Francophonie Pierre S. Pettigrew today tabled before Parliament the
Government's reply to the report of the Second Annual National Forum on Canada's
International Relations. Held in Toronto in September 1995, the Forum's theme was
"Canada and International Institutions."
In expressing its agreement with the main recommendations of the report, the
Government affirms that international institutions must become more coherent, more
efficient, more responsible and more transparent. The Government will continue to
regard reform of the international financial institutions and of the United
Nations as a priority. It will also place special emphasis on regional
organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the
Organization of American States (OAS), while reaffirming the importance of the
Francophonie and the Commonwealth.
As for the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Government will place priority on
applying the terms and conditions of the WTO, including the dispute settlement
mechanism. The purpose is to establish a multilateral trade regime based on
mutually agreed upon market access conditions and on trade rules that apply
equitably to all the member countries.
In addition, as recommended by the Forum, the Government intends to make civilian
peacekeeping a priority of its foreign policy. With this in mind, it intends to
have non-governmental organizations play a larger part in developing strategies
for conflict prevention and peacekeeping.
The annual Forum is part of the Government's commitment to seek greater public
participation in formulating foreign policy.
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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
To obtain a printed copy of the Government's reply or to access it by electronic
means:
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3. InfoCentre Bulletin Board (IBB)
To access the system, you need a computer, modem, telephone line and basic
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Canada) to access the site and register on-line.
4. Internet Web Site
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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