<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES IN MINE ACTION</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">March 24, 1998 No. 66</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES IN MINE ACTION</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Diane Marleau, Minister for
International Co-operation, today announced funding in support of mine action in
Bosnia, Cambodia and Afghanistan. The announcement came at the close of the
International Workshop for Mine Action Co-ordination in Ottawa.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In Bosnia, a war-torn country where Canadian peacekeepers have played a key role,
Canada will spend up to $10 million over five years to support an innovative mine
action program. It will initially focus on northwest Bosnia, the area of
responsibility for the Canadian peacekeeping contingent. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"We believe we have developed an effective, practical way to use existing
demining expertise in Bosnia," said Minister Axworthy, who will travel to Bosnia
later this week. "Our objective is to substantially reduce the risk posed by
landmines to the people of Bosnia. Working with Canada's international partners,
we will work to clear at least half of the highest priority contaminated areas in
the country within five years. This will facilitate the safe return of refugees
and displaced persons to their homes."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This program, the first to come from the $100 million Canadian Landmines Fund
announced last December, was designed with </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">co-operation in mind. Under the program's "adopt-a-team" concept, Canada will
encourage other donors to provide technical support to local demining teams. For
$500 000 per year, these 30-person teams will be able to operate on an ongoing
basis.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I invite our international partners to join Canada in adopting a team of
demining personnel", said Minister Marleau. "This approach will boost on-the-ground demining efforts in a practical and nationally co-ordinated manner."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">On March 26, Minister Axworthy will open the Budapest Regional Conference on
anti-personnel mines hosted by the Hungarian government. He will also visit
northwest Bosnia to discuss implementation of the new program. Madame Marleau was
in Sarajevo in early March where she witnessed the impact of landmines on the
people of that city. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In addition, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will continue
its ongoing support for mine action in Cambodia and Afghanistan. It will provide
$1 million to the Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) to assist it in its demining
programs, bringing the total CIDA contribution to CMAC to $3.9 million. CIDA will
also contribute $1 million in additional funding to the United Nations Centre for
Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan, for a total of $4.75 million. These two
contributions are part of CIDA's long-term program funding for mine action in
Cambodia and Afghanistan.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The key focus of any mine action programs is not so much on the number of mines
as on the number of victims and the amount of arable land lost to development and
productive use -- in other words, on the real impact on daily life," said Mr.
Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In both countries, efforts will aim at enhancing the ability of people in mine-affected areas to rebuild their communities. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"At all times," said Minister Marleau, "our actions have to be people-centred.
After all, individuals, one by one, and each in their own right, are the engine
of development."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 1998 federal budget
and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.</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">André Doren</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of International Co-operation</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 997-6919</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">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canadian International Development Agency</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 953-6534</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department of </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs and International Trade Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
</body>
</html>
