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<title>AXWORTHY TO ATTEND COMMONWEALTHHEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">October 22, 1997 No. 169</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY TO ATTEND COMMONWEALTH</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will accompany Prime Minister Chrétien to
the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from October 24 to 27 in
Edinburgh, United Kingdom.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The CHOGM provides an excellent opportunity for Canada to cultivate our relations
with the other member nations and reaffirm Canada's commitment to the
Commonwealth's Harare Declaration on human rights and democracy," said Minister
Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">On October 23, before the CHOGM, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)
will meet in Edinburgh. Created in 1995, the CMAG's mandate is to recommend
collective Commonwealth responses to serious or persistent violations of the
principles contained in the Commonwealth's Harare Declaration on human rights and
democracy. Mr. Axworthy and other Foreign Ministers will discuss final plans
regarding the group's recommendations to the Commonwealth Heads of Government in
regard to the evolution of democratic principles and human rights in Nigeria,
Sierra Leone and the Gambia.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In addition to his participation at the CMAG, Mr. Axworthy will also participate
in a panel discussion on landmines, sponsored by the U.K. Working Group on
Landmines at the Non-governmental Organization Forum on October 25. Nearly 100
organizations will be represented at the NGO Forum, which takes place in Edinburgh
in parallel with the Heads of Government Meeting.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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