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<title>AXWORTHY TO ATTEND AFRICAN SUMMIT, MEETINGS IN CYPRUS AND LONDON ANDINTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT CONFERENCE IN ROME</title>
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<p><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 4, 1998 No. 144</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY TO ATTEND AFRICAN SUMMIT, </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">MEETINGS IN CYPRUS AND LONDON AND</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT CONFERENCE IN ROME</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that he will attend the
Organization for African Unity (OAU) Summit in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on June
9, 1998. He will then travel to Cyprus for bilateral meetings on June 11, to
London, England, on June 12, for a meeting of G-8 Foreign Ministers to discuss
India and Pakistan's recent nuclear tests, and to Rome, Italy, for the Diplomatic
Conference to Establish the International Criminal Court (ICC), June 15 to 16.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In Ouagadougou, the Minister will meet with Heads of State, Heads of Government
and Foreign Ministers from the 53 member nations of the OAU to discuss a range of
topics including promoting the signing and ratification of the Ottawa Treaty to
Ban Landmines and issues of concern to the African sub-continent. The OAU, and
its member countries, were key partners in the global coalition that worked
together to develop the Ottawa Treaty, which opened for signature in Ottawa last
December.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">On the next leg of his trip, Mr. Axworthy will meet with President Glafcos
Clerides and Foreign Minister Ioannis Cassoulides of the Republic of Cyprus, the
Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktash, and the Representative to Cyprus of the
United Nations Secretary-General, Gustav Feissel. Mr. Axworthy will review the
political and security situation on the island and will reiterate Canada's
commitment to a peacefully negotiated settlement to the Cyprus problem. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mr. Axworthy next travels to London for a special meeting of G-8 Foreign
Ministers to discuss the international response to India's and Pakistan's nuclear
testing.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The decisions of the Indian and Pakistani governments to carry out nuclear tests
were highly irresponsible. These actions threaten international security,
regional stability and the non-proliferation regime," said Mr. Axworthy. "I
welcome British Foreign Minister Robin Cook's proposal to convene a meeting to
discuss the issue. This situation calls for a co-ordinated international
response."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In Rome, Mr. Axworthy will reinforce Canada's strong support for a permanent
International Criminal Court. Canada has long been a vigorous proponent of this
new body and chairs the "Group of Like-Minded States," which works towards the
creation of an independent and effective court. Canada has contributed $40 000
from the Peacebuilding Fund to enable least developed countries to take part in
the negotiations.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The traditional tools and institutions of international diplomacy were not
designed to respond to the violations resulting from deadly conflict," said Mr.
Axworthy. "Terrible events like those in Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia have
spurred the international community to work together to develop new tools such as
the International Criminal Court."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The goal of the Rome conference is to establish the framework for the ICC, which
will bring to justice those accused of the most serious international offences,
such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">While in Rome, Mr. Axworthy will meet with Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini for
follow-up discussions on the Declaration of Strengthened Partnership between
Canada and Italy, which was signed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Italian
Prime Minister Romano Prodi on May 20. Minister Axworthy will also meet with
senior Vatican officials to discuss international issues of mutual interest. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Minister will also take advantage of opportunities throughout this trip to
promote Canada's bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security
Council for 1999-2000.</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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