<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>CANADA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLYSPECIAL SESSION ON THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">June 5, 1998 No. 146</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">SPECIAL SESSION ON THE WORLD DRUG PROBLEM</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">National Revenue Minister Herb Dhaliwal will lead the Canadian delegation to the
United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug
Problem in New York, from June 8 to 10. The Canadian delegation will include
Solicitor General of Canada Andy Scott, who will give a speech on June 10 on
behalf of the Government of Canada.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The international trade in illicit drugs continues to have significant social,
health, economic and political consequences for all countries," said Mr.
Dhaliwal. "We must co-operate at the national and international levels to address
this problem."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In New York, Canada will promote an active and balanced approach to international
anti-drug co-operation as a necessary response to the changing situation in
Canada and around the world. As well, Canada will seek to ensure that the issues
of drug supply and reduction in drug demand are addressed in a balanced way. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Drug trafficking is an international problem with growing links to other types
of crime such as money laundering," said Mr. Scott. "Furthermore, money
laundering has become a global threat to the integrity and stability of financial
and trading systems."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">At the international level, Canada made a commitment at the Santiago Summit of
the Americas in April to host a group of hemispheric foreign ministers on drug
issues. Following the Summit, Canada was elected to chair the Inter-American Drug
Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) Working Group that will develop the multilateral
evaluation mechanism for monitoring national and international drug efforts.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<table width="100%">
<tr valign="TOP"><td><font face="Courier">Michael Barluk</font>
<p><font face="Courier">Press Secretary</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of National
Revenue</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 947-7299</font></td>
<td><font face="Courier">Dan Brien</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Communications Assistant to the
Solicitor General</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 991-2874</font></p>
</td></tr></table>
<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 of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
</body>
</html>
