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<meta name="DATE" content="9/14/1998">
<meta name="Author" content="LAVIGNJM">
<title>AXWORTHY TO MEET WITH NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN OTTAWA</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">September 15, 1998 No. 213</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY TO MEET WITH NORWEGIAN </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">FOREIGN MINISTER IN OTTAWA</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will meet his Norwegian counterpart, Knut
Vollebaek, in Ottawa on September 16. As part of the follow-up to the work
initiated under the Norway-Canada Partnership for Action, established in the
Lysoen Declaration of last May, the ministers will review plans for further
Norway-Canada consultation and co-operation in the areas of human security, human
rights, humanitarian law, conflict prevention and democracy and good governance.
Following the meeting, the ministers will also sign a mutual legal assistance
treaty.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Our partnership attests to the long-standing friendship of our two countries and
to our shared values in many areas of common interest," said Mr. Axworthy. "In
addition to having contributed to the establishment, last July, of an independent
and effective international criminal court of justice, this partnership involves
intense collaboration with respect to the ban on anti-personnel mines, including
mine clearance and victim assistance."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">In the context of the Norway-Canada Partnership, ministers Axworthy and Vollebaek
will sign a mutual legal assistance treaty, which calls for each country to
provide the other with "the widest measure of mutual assistance in criminal
matters." They will also review areas of international concern, with a particular
focus on conflict prevention, the proliferation of military small arms and
weapons, and ways to eliminate the exploitation and abuse of children, including
children involved in armed conflict.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Both ministers will participate in a meeting of the Arctic Council in Iqaluit from
September 17 to 18.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><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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