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<title>AXWORTHY TO ATTEND28TH OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN CARACAS</title>
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<p><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">May 29, 1998 No. 138</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY TO ATTEND</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">28th OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN CARACAS</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that he will attend the
first day of the 28th General Assembly of the Organization of American States
(OAS) in Caracas, Venezuela, to be held June 1 to 3, 1998.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I believe that Canada's commitment and leadership in many crucial areas such as
good governance, rule of law, human rights, and security have helped improve the
functioning of the OAS," said Minister Axworthy. "The OAS has become an
effective forum for members to pursue global priorities and offers Canada an
opportunity to strengthen ties with our neighbours in the hemisphere."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada's objectives for this year's OAS meeting are to:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> Underscore and advance key hemispheric security issues including ratification
of the Ottawa Treaty to Ban Landmines.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> Highlight Canadian involvement in anti-drug activities in the region.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> Promote civil society participation in the OAS.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> Encourage reform of the OAS in keeping with mandates and priorities expressed
at the Santiago Summit.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">While in Caracas, Mr. Axworthy will co-chair a Foreign Affairs Ministers Summit
Implementation Review Group (SIRG) meeting, a follow-up to the Santiago Summit
held last April in Chile. He will also pursue discussions on the new dialogue
group, which hemispheric leaders have asked Canada to launch, and whose purpose
is to address narcotics trafficking in the Americas. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The General Assembly of the OAS is an annual meeting of Foreign Ministers from 34
member states of Latin America and the Caribbean. Canada will host the OAS
General Assembly in 2000, which will mark Canada's 10th year of membership.</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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