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<title> AXWORTHY TO ATTEND NATO MEETINGS</title>
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<p><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">May 26, 1998 No. 132</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2"> AXWORTHY TO ATTEND NATO MEETINGS</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy announced today that he will attend the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ministerial Meetings in Luxembourg on
May 28 and 29, 1998.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The North Atlantic Council, the decision-making body of NATO, will discuss the
renewal of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia. Mr. Axworthy will also
participate in the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council marking the first
anniversary of the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act on Security and </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Co-operation. Meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission and the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council will also mark a year of progress in building these
relationships.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The continuation of SFOR in Bosnia and NATO's role in maintaining stability in
the Balkans as a whole will be at the centre of our concern, particularly in
light of developments in Kosovo." Mr. Axworthy said. "We will need to ensure that
NATO, in co-operation with its partners, makes a full contribution to building
security in Europe in the coming years." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">NATO's process of adaptation and enlargement is well under way. The partnership
arrangements with Russia, Ukraine and other European countries are making
significant contributions to security and co-operation in the Euro-Atlantic
region. NATO is now examining its strategic concept and looking beyond its 50th
anniversary next year. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada's main objectives at the Luxembourg meetings are to ensure that NATO
continues to build on the achievements since the Madrid Summit, and to remain a
strong organization with a clear vision of its role and confident in its ability
to contribute to European and international security. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">While in Luxembourg, Mr. Axworthy will also take the opportunity to raise with
his counterparts Canada's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -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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