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<title>BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION VICE-PRESIDENT TO VISIT CANADA </title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">January 15, 1998 No. 12</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION
VICE-PRESIDENT TO VISIT CANADA </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that British Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Robin Cook, Chair of the General
Affairs Council of the European Union, will visit Ottawa on January 16. Foreign
Secretary Cook will be accompanied by Sir Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the
European Commission. Great Britain holds the rotating Presidency of the European
Union (EU) until June. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This will be Mr. Cook's first official visit to Canada since his appointment as
Foreign Secretary following the national election in Britain last May.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"During the visit, we will review mutual foreign policy concerns for Canada and
both the European Union and the United Kingdom, including Algeria, Bosnia, Iraq,
and the Middle East Peace Process," said Minister Axworthy. "Our discussions will
be in preparation for the Canada-EU Summit in May, and to evaluate the progress
of the Canada-UK Joint Declaration to revitalize our bilateral relations."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"In a bilateral meeting, Foreign Secretary Cook and I will discuss issues such as
the situation in Nigeria, the implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban
Treaty, and the establishment of an International Criminal Court," said Mr.
Axworthy. "I also look forward to a briefing from Foreign Secretary Cook on the
situation in Northern Ireland."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Minister Axworthy, Foreign Secretary Cook and Vice-President Brittan will
participate in a Conference Board of Canada symposium entitled <em>Europe Towards the
New Millennium: The Relevance to Canada</em>. Vice-President Brittan will also meet
with Finance Minister Paul Martin during the visit. </font></p>
<p><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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