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<title>CANADA ANNOUNCES CONTRIBUTION TO ASIA-PACIFIC PEOPLES' ASSEMBLY AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PROJECT</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">November 4, 1998 <em>(2:15 p.m. EST)</em> No. 254</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">CANADA ANNOUNCES CONTRIBUTION TO ASIA-PACIFIC </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">PEOPLES' ASSEMBLY AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PROJECT</font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi today announced a
Canadian contribution of $50 000 to fund the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Assembly (APPA) and a forum co-hosted by
the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS) during the upcoming 1998 APEC Leaders Meeting in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The 1998 Asia-Pacific Peoples' Assembly (APPA) is a conference of non-governmental organizations to be
held from November 10 to 15 in advance of the APEC Leaders Meeting, November 16 to 18. The Vancouver-based IMPACS will co-host with the Malaysian-based Asian Institute for Development Communications
(AIDCOM) the first meeting of the International Monitoring Group (IMG) on Trade and Media on November 13.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"As a significant gathering of groups interested in good governance, human rights and the rule of law, I look
forward to the success of the APPA and the IMG meeting," said Mr. Axworthy. "Canada is dedicated to
furthering discussions on various mechanisms to engage in formal consultation and dialogue with civil society
throughout Asia-Pacific." </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">More than 300 participants from the Asia-Pacific region are expected to attend APPA. This year's assembly will
address the impact of the current financial crisis on the Asian and other economies, and review progress on
civil society issues on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Marchi commended the organizers of the Peoples' Assembly. "It is vital that citizens
interested in the opportunities and challenges of trade and investment liberalization express their views and
provide their advice to governments."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The IMG meeting will review the state of free media within APEC, monitor the impact of trade liberalization on
media, and brief media and APEC officials on recommendations to advance free media in the region.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Canadian contribution of $25 000 to APPA is for documentation expenses including publications, flyers and
registration packages, while the $25 000 allocated to IMPACS is to offset costs associated with the co-ordination of the IMG meeting. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In addition, CIDA provided $60 000 to support an international conference on the engagement of civil society in
the APEC process, held on October 5 in Malaysia.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Leaders from 21 Pacific Rim economies will meet from November 16 to 18 in Kuala Lumpur for the sixth APEC
Economic Leaders Meeting. The leaders meeting will be preceded on November 14 and 15 by the tenth
meeting of APEC ministers responsible for international trade and for foreign affairs, which Minister Axworthy
and Minister Marchi will attend. Both meetings will include participation, for the first time, of three new APEC
members: Peru, Russia, and Vietnam.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Funding for this contribution was provided for in the February 1998 federal budget and is therefore built into the
existing fiscal framework.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Leslie Swartman</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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