NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY TO SIGN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM CONVENTION DURING VISIT TO NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON
February 9, 2000 (6:30 p.m. EST) No. 21
AXWORTHY TO SIGN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM CONVENTION
DURING VISIT TO NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy today announced he will travel to New
York and Washington, D.C., on February 10 and 11.
On February 10 at UN Headquarters, Minister Axworthy will sign the International
Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. "Canada has been at
the forefront of efforts aimed at fighting terrorism, through our work within the UN,
the G-8 and other international fora," said Mr. Axworthy. "International co-operation
is essential in the fight against terrorist crime. We have and will continue to strongly
support measures to strengthen the international legal regime against terrorists."
Later that day, Mr. Axworthy will be the keynote speaker at New York University's
School of Law. The Minister will give his address entitled "Humanitarian
Interventions and Humanitarian Constraints" at the annual NYU/International
Committee of the Red Cross Seminar for Diplomats on International Humanitarian
Law.
"The legitimacy of humanitarian intervention rests on the UN Charter, developments
in international humanitarian and human rights law, and, perhaps most significantly,
on Security Council practice," said Mr. Axworthy. "However, despite all of this, the
principle of humanitarian intervention is not yet universally accepted. An open
debate is needed on the issue of whether and when intervention represents an
appropriate course of action."
While in New York, the Minister will also discuss human security issues with
members of the World Policy Institute, a prestigious research group and think tank
that seeks to influence foreign policy and public opinion on international affairs.
In Washington on February 11, he will meet with César Gaviria, Secretary General
of the Organization of American States (OAS) and address the OAS Permanent
Council, regarding Canadian preparations and priorities for the 30th General
Assembly of the OAS, to be held in Windsor, Ontario, from June 4 to 6. In his
address, Mr. Axworthy will touch on key elements of the Windsor agenda, including
hemispheric initiatives on human security, institutional reform of the OAS and the
participation of civil society in the Organization. This year marks the tenth
anniversary of Canada's membership in the OAS.
"We are looking forward to hosting this year's General Assembly. Canada's
presence in the OAS is very important, and the General Assembly will be an ideal
forum for us to further advance key foreign policy objectives including human
security, indigenous rights and human rights," said Mr. Axworthy.
In addition, the Minister will meet with members of Congress in Washington to
discuss bilateral matters such as Section 110, Garrison Diversion and Devils Lake.
For many years, Canada has opposed the Garrison Diversion and plans for an
outlet from Devils Lake, as both projects involve interbasin diversions of water into
Manitoba. The Government of Canada's opposition to these projects is based on the
costly, unpredictable and irreversible economic and environmental damage that can
occur from such interbasin water diversions.
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For further information, representatives of the media 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
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