NEWS RELEASES
ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT OTTAWA
March 20, 2000 No. 51
ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT OTTAWA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that his Italian counterpart,
Lamberto Dini, will visit Ottawa on March 21.
"Canada is building on its strong ties with Italy through the Canada-Italy Declaration
on a Strengthened Partnership," said Minister Axworthy. "This meeting gives us the
opportunity to further that partnership by identifying areas for enhanced bilateral and
multilateral co-operation."
Ministers Axworthy and Dini will meet to discuss the upcoming G-8 summit in
Okinawa, and Italy's and Canada's chairing of the G-8 in 2001 and 2002
respectively. They will also exchange views on Euro-Atlantic relations and stability in
the Balkans. The ministers will meet again in May at the meeting of NATO foreign
ministers in Florence.
As Canada will shortly assume the presidency of the UN Security Council for the
month of April, Minister Axworthy will take the opportunity to highlight Canada's
agenda for the protection of civilians in armed conflict. In addition, he will outline
Canadian initiatives on war-affected children, including an international conference
in Canada this fall to formulate a plan of action for addressing the issue.
On bilateral issues, the ministers will discuss Canadian-Italian co-operation in the
fields of telecommunications and aeronautical training.
While in Ottawa, Mr. Dini will meet as well with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to
discuss a range of bilateral issues.
This is Mr. Dini's second visit to Canada as Foreign Minister. He was in Canada in
December 1997 to sign the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines. Italy is a
staunch supporter of a landmines ban. It has ratified the Ottawa Convention and is
active in mine clearance and mine awareness in the Balkans.
Mr. Dini has served on some of the world's most influential economic bodies,
including the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank. He has
also served as Director General of the Bank of Italy, Treasury Minister and Prime
Minister of Italy. Mr. Dini has been Minister of Foreign Affairs since May 1996.
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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
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