NEWS RELEASES

April 19, 2000 (12:40 p.m. EDT) No. 81

AXWORTHY TO ATTEND NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that he will travel to New York on April 25 to address the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference as head of the Canadian delegation.

"Canada has a long-standing commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons," said Mr. Axworthy. "The NPT is the most effective international tool for achieving our nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation objectives, and the cornerstone of peaceful international nuclear co-operation. Global stability and security depend on implementation by the international community of all the obligations of the NPT."

One of Canada's key objectives for the conference is to promote universal adherence to the NPT. Minister Axworthy will urge the four remaining non-members to sign and ratify the treaty as non-nuclear weapon states, and will push for a renewed commitment from member states to live up to their obligations under the treaty. He will also seek to secure agreement on an updated five-year action program with new, concrete objectives for disarmament and non-proliferation, and to enhance the review process on the implementation of the treaty.

"Canada applauds the recent positive steps towards nuclear disarmament, including Russia's ratification of START II last week and the agreement last December by NATO foreign ministers to a Canadian proposal for a thorough review of NATO arms control and disarmament policy," said Mr. Axworthy. "We look to the Review Conference to build on this momentum."

The NPT Review Conference takes place from April 24 to May 19 at the United Nations in New York. Parties to the treaty meet every five years to review its implementation and to look ahead to ensure that its provisions continue to be met.

The NPT entered into force on March 5, 1970. With 187 states now party -- missing only Cuba, India, Israel and Pakistan -- it is the most widely adhered-to arms control treaty in existence.

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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