NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY AND STEWART TO VISIT CUBA
January 17, 1997 No. 9
AXWORTHY AND STEWART TO VISIT CUBA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that he and Secretary of
State (Latin America and Africa) Christine Stewart will visit Cuba on January 21
and 22 to discuss a number of bilateral and multilateral issues.
"I welcome this opportunity to review our relations and exchange views on a broad
range of issues," said Mr. Axworthy. "Canada has maintained a long-standing
dialogue with Cuba that includes questions of human rights, good governance, trade
and economic and legal reform. While Canada and Cuba may not agree on all issues,
we have chosen to discuss our difference of views in a context of engagement and
dialogue, and not one of confrontation and isolation. Canada believes it is
important to raise and discuss these views at an appropriate political level."
Since 1945, Canada has pursued its policy of dialogue with Cuba through successive
governments and has maintained uninterrupted diplomatic relations with Cuba. This
visit by Mr. Axworthy is the first by a Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister since
1959. Mrs. Stewart was in Cuba once before, in June 1994. The last Canadian Head
of Government to go to Cuba was then Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1976.
This trip by Mr. Axworthy and Mrs. Stewart follows a visit to Canada by Dr. Carlos
Lage Dávila, the Vice President of the Cuban Council State, in October 1996.
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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 avaialable on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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