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<title>CANADA HOSTS FIRST ARCTIC COUNCIL MINISTERIAL MEETING IN IQALUIT</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">September 10, 1998 No. 208</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADA HOSTS FIRST ARCTIC COUNCIL </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">MINISTERIAL MEETING IN IQALUIT</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development Jane Stewart will host the first ministerial meeting of the
Arctic Council in Iqaluit, in Canada's eastern Arctic, from September 17 to 18,
1998.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Delegates from eight countries and three international organizations representing
Indigenous peoples will review and approve plans for the Council's work for the
next two years. They will also welcome a fourth Indigenous organization to the
table. The meeting will end Canada's two-year term as first chair of the Council;
the Council was launched in Ottawa in September 1996.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Arctic nations share an environment and many common interests, and co-operative
efforts between nations can make a difference in the lives of Northerners," said
Minister Axworthy. "This Council meeting is an opportunity for governments,
Indigenous peoples and other participants to discuss those interests and establish
some priorities and plans for the next few years.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Since the Council was inaugurated two years ago, working groups have been
focussing on co-operative approaches on a range of issues. Ministers will review
action plans in areas such as the protection of the marine environment; preventing
and responding to environmental emergencies; and conserving arctic flora and
fauna. They will also discuss priorities for co-operation in health, education and
economic development.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The Arctic region is a fundamental part of Canada's society, economy and
geography. As we make progress with northern Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples
on the many issues before us in the North, we must continue to strengthen
partnerships with our circumpolar neighbours. The two agendas are inextricably
linked," said Minister Stewart. </font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Courier">The Council builds on the effective international co-operation between circumpolar
countries, begun in 1991 under the earlier Arctic Environmental Protection
Strategy (AEPS), which now comes under the umbrella of the Council.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Arctic Council brings together eight circumpolar countries: Canada,
Denmark/Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Council is also unique among international bodies for involving on a permanent
basis a representation of northern Indigenous peoples as Permanent Participants.
The three Permanent Participants at present are the Inuit Circumpolar Conference,
the Saami Council, and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North.
Accredited Observers include non-Arctic states and non-governmental organizations.</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 (DFAIT)</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Kelly Ronan</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 997-0002</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Steve Outhouse</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND)</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 997-8404</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Steven Joudry</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Nunavut Secretariat, Iqaluit</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(867) 979-1605</font><font face="Times New Roman"></font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Other Web sites:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">DFAIT: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca search "Arctic"</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">DIAND: http://www.inac.gc.ca/sds/index.html</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Arctic Council Secretariat: http://www.nrc.ca/arctic/about.html </font></p>
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