NEWS RELEASES

July 6, 2001 (2:00 p.m. EDT) No. 98

DR. PAGTAKHAN TO LEAD CANADIAN DELEGATION TO UN CONFERENCE ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS

Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific), will lead the Canadian delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, to take place July 9 to 20 in New York City. Dr. Pagtakhan is representing Canada on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Manley.

Since the mid-1990s, the United Nations has placed the issue of small arms and light weapons firmly on the international political agenda. The Conference will be the first major international meeting, involving ministerial participation, that the United Nations has organized on small arms and light weapons.

"The excessive and destabilizing accumulation and uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons are a serious threat to international peace, as well as human security. Canada has been instrumental in ensuring that small arms and light weapons are now routinely discussed within the United Nations and in other international organizations," said Dr. Pagtakhan. "This conference will bring new focus and attention to the issue. Canada is committed to a global action plan, set forth by the conference, to deal comprehensively with the problems related to small arms and light weapons."

In addition to attending the ministerial portion of the Conference, Dr. Pagtakhan will open the Canadian art exhibit, i Human 2000 Peace Initiative: The Gun Sculpture, and table the Canadian study, Putting Children First: A Framework for International Action to Address the Impact of Small Arms on Children.

The exhibit is the work of Edmonton artists, Sandra Bromley and Wallis Kendal, and was sponsored in part, by the Government of Canada through the Canada Millennium Partnership Program. It is a multimedia project constructed with more than 7000 decommissioned weapons, donated by countries previously affected by war. It has already been viewed in Hanover, Germany, Seoul, Korea and most recently in Ottawa. It will remain on display at UN headquarters until September 3, 2001.

Canada commissioned the study on the impact of small arms on children as part of follow-up efforts to the International Conference on War-Affected Children, held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The launch of the study will coincide with the NGO International Action Network on Small Arms Children and Small Arms Day, on July 11.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Stephanie Ashton

Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)

(613) 995-2742

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874