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NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL AMBASSADORS VISIT CANADA

October 28, 1997 No. 173

NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL AMBASSADORS VISIT CANADA

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and National Defence Minister Art Eggleton today announced that the North Atlantic Council Ambassadors will visit Ottawa October 28 to 29.

The Council Ambassadors, led by Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), will be briefed on Canada's foreign and defence policy priorities. Minister Axworthy and Minister Eggleton will meet with Secretary-General Solana during the visit.

"Canada has been a member of NATO since the organization was founded in 1949. Since then, Canada has been among the strongly supportive parties, playing an active, creative and constructive role in the Alliance," said Minister Axworthy. "Canada is putting its resources toward top priorities. Canada remains a committed player in the NATO Alliance, which forms one of the basic pillars of Canada's security structure."

"Today, as ever, we remain committed to the NATO Alliance, as demonstrated by our significant contribution to NATO's mission in Bosnia," said Minister Eggleton. "NATO remains an effective instrument for ensuring peace and stability in Europe and North America; it is living proof that individual nations can work together toward a common goal. It is for these reasons that the Canadian Forces' participation in NATO operations will continue to remain strong as the Alliance approaches its 50th year of existence."

The Council Ambassadors will have an extensive series of discussions on Canada's role in NATO and on the Canadian political and economic environment. The North Atlantic Council visit to Canada will provide an opportunity to explain Canada's approaches to a number of key issues facing the Alliance, including the enlargement process, relations with Russia and internal NATO reform.

This visit will give the Council the opportunity to obtain a clearer understanding of Canadian parliamentarians'

preoccupations, and will underline how Canadians regard Canada's role in Europe and, in particular, in NATO.

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Nicole Bourget

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