NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY TO HOST NATIONAL FORUM ON CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
December 10, 1996 No. 240
AXWORTHY TO HOST NATIONAL FORUM ON
CANADA'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will meet with Canadians to discuss
Canada's role in peacebuilding and international communications as he hosts the
third annual National Forum on Canada's International Relations, in Winnipeg,
Manitoba, on Friday, December 13, 1996. This session follows five regional
meetings on the same themes held this autumn from coast to coast.
"In the first five sessions, Canadians across the country seriously addressed the
issues concerning our involvement worldwide and our contributions to peacekeeping
missions and they have generated some new ideas and policy recommendations," said
Mr. Axworthy. "As Canada faces challenges in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, as
well as in international communications, it is more important than ever for
Canadians to contribute to our thinking about crises, peacebuilding and
communicating Canada's values abroad."
Mr. Axworthy will speak at the luncheon while opening remarks on communications
will be presented by well-known Canadian broadcaster and commentator, Ann Medina,
and Canada's Ambassador to Cuba, Mark Entwistle, will address the issues of
peacebuilding. Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan will join the
discussions along with senior officials including Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade (DFAIT) Assistant Deputy Minister Lucie Edwards and
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Vice-President John Robinson.
Over 500 Canadians -- including youth, academics, community leaders and
representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), business and labour --
participated in the regional meetings held in Halifax, Victoria, Edmonton,
Toronto, and Quebec City in October and November this year.
More than 100 Canadians are expected to participate in the wrap-up session to be
held at the Hotel Fort Garry. In addition to Winnipeg area citizens interested in
foreign policy issues, participants will include representatives from each of the
other five forum meetings and policy officials from the DFAIT and CIDA.
In keeping with the main themes of peacebuilding and international communications,
discussions in the final session are expected to centre on promoting Canadian
values including Human Rights, the role of NGOs in peacebuilding, and specific
suggestions for Canadian initiatives.
The Winnipeg session of the National Forum is being co-ordinated by a local
Winnipeg Organizing Committee (Chair: Jim Fergusson, University of Manitoba) with
the Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development. It is being funded by DFAIT
and CIDA.
The Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development was established in the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade earlier this year by Mr.
Axworthy to help Canadians participate in foreign policy making. In addition to
assisting with preparations for all the sessions of the National Forum, the Centre
manages public consultation, research and other John Holmes Fund projects.
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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; and on the Internet site for the Canadian Centre for
Foreign Policy Development: www.cfp-pec.gc.ca
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