NEWS RELEASES
November 21, 2005 (3:10 p.m. EST)
No. 228
MINISTER PETTIGREW TABLES CANADA’S GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today tabled in Parliament Canada’s first
annual report under the G8-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and
Materials of Mass Destruction. The report, entitled Global Partnership
Program—Securing the Future, covers Canada’s first two years of activities after the
launch of the Global Partnership in 2002.
The report notes the significant progress achieved by Canada in the priority areas of the
Global Partnership: the destruction of chemical weapons; the dismantlement of
decommissioned nuclear submarines; nuclear and radiological security and the
redirection of former weapons scientists. There has also been progress made in the
area of biological non-proliferation.
“Canada’s achievements, outlined in this inaugural report, demonstrate our strong
commitment to the Global Partnership,” said Mr. Pettigrew. “Canada has moved quickly
in undertaking concrete projects and has been instrumental in furthering the initiative.
Canadians can be proud of the critical contribution this country has made to this
important and unique non-proliferation and disarmament initiative. The Global
Partnership is another concrete example of an area in which Canada can make a real
difference internationally.”
The Global Partnership Program was launched at the 2002 G8 Kananaskis Summit.
Canada was instrumental in the decision by G8 countries to address terrorist and
proliferation threats posed by large stockpiles of weapons or materials of mass
destruction in Russia and the former Soviet Union and by tens of thousands of
underemployed former weapons scientists. Leaders of G8 countries committed to raise
up to US$20 billion over 10 years for this purpose.
Canada agreed to contribute up to $1 billion over 10 years to the Global Partnership
and has developed a comprehensive framework of legal, financial and program
management instruments to allow the program to move ahead in a fully accountable
manner. A whole-of-government approach has been applied involving two dozen
departments and agencies in project review and provision of policy advice.
The 2005 Global Partnership Program Annual Report is available on the following Web
page: www.globalpartnership.gc.ca.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
James Christoff
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
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