NEWS RELEASES

September 13, 1999 (5:20 p.m. EDT) No. 203

AXWORTHY VISITS FIJI

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, in Fiji following the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum ministerial meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, will take part in bilateral discussions today with Fiji's acting Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tupeni Baba. He will also meet with South Pacific Forum Secretary-General Noel Levi. The Forum is the political grouping of states in the South Pacific region.

These meetings will be an opportunity to discuss issues affecting Fiji and other islands, such as the effects of global warming and management and conservation of ocean resources, and in particular the work of the Canada-South Pacific Ocean Development Program. The meetings will also present an opportunity to discuss problems particular to small states, such as income volatility due to trade dependence, lack of institutional capacity, higher propensity to natural disasters and limited capacity to provide public services. Such problems are the subject of a current World Bank-Commonwealth joint study.

"Fiji and the South Pacific islands are important partners for Canada," said Minister Axworthy, noting their strong support for Canada's Security Council bid. "This is an opportunity to follow up on our commitment to pay particular attention to the concerns of small and island states, and to help raise those issues at the UN and other international forums."

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For further information, media representatives 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