NEWS RELEASES

April 27, 2000 (10:40 a.m. EDT) No. 84

CANADIAN AND GHANIAN YOUTH DIALOGUE ON THE INTERNET:

IN REAL TIME

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy, today announced that he will be taking part in an interactive Internet discussion broadcast direct from the West African Conference on War-Affected Children, in Accra, Ghana. The Internet discussion will be held today from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (EDT). The Conference on War-Affected Children is being held in Accra, Ghana, April 27 and 28.

At the invitation of War Child Canada, a non-governmental organization, Minister Axworthy and Ghana's Minister of Foreign Affairs James Victor Gbeho, as well as eight African children from war-torn regions of West Africa, will participate in a live and interactive discussion with young Ghanians and young Canadians from 16 schools across Canada. In the first thirty minutes of the interactive discussion Minister Axworthy will answer questions from young Canadians and Ghanians. In the remaining half hour, War Child Canada will provide information about children in situations of armed conflict, and also conduct a survey to find out what the youth think.

For the first time Canada will be linked to the African continent through the Internet and will use this medium to bring youth together from both continents. To be part of the Internet discussion, register at the War Child Canada site, at http://www.canadalive.com

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade also has a Web page on war-affected children on its Web site at http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/war_affected_children

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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