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<title>MINISTERS AXWORTHY AND MARLEAU MARK FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF LANDMINES CONVENTION</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">December 1, 1998 <em>(11:30 a.m. EST)</em> No. 274 </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">MINISTERS AXWORTHY AND MARLEAU MARK </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF LANDMINES CONVENTION</font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation and Minister responsible for
La Francophonie Diane Marleau, today announced a Canadian contribution of $2.8 million for mine-action
projects in seven countries in Central Europe, Africa and the Middle East. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The announcement marks the first anniversary of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling,
Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, known as the Ottawa Convention,
which opened for signature December 3, 1997.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Just one year ago when 122 countries signed the Ottawa Convention, it was recognized as an outstanding
global achievement, and we have made even more progress in</font><font face="Arial"> the past 12 months," said Mr. Axworthy.
"Tremendous strides have been made in implementing the Convention and in making a real difference in the
lives of people in mine-affected countries."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A total of 133 countries have now signed the Convention, and 55 of those have ratified. The Convention will
come into legal force in March 1999, barely 15 months after it opened for signature.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Canada has played an important role in realizing this progress through our expertise and through our
contributions to numerous mine-action projects worldwide. Today we are pleased to reaffirm that role through
our commitment to these seven new projects," added Mr. Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"On this anniversary we are more committed than ever to helping communities that are living with the legacy of
landmines," said Madame Marleau. "We have been inspired by the results of demining in countries such as
Cambodia, where our support has led to the removal of over 32 000 mines and the return of 10 000 people to
fields where they are now able to grow rice. We will also be providing victim assistance, enabling those people
hurt by anti-personnel mines to rebuild their lives and become active in their communities," she added.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister Axworthy made his remarks in Ottawa at the opening of the Landmine Monitor Meeting, a working
conference organized by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which is taking place this week
as part of a series of events commemorating the first anniversary of the Convention. Mr. Axworthy was joined at
this event by Jody Williams, who along with the ICBL, was last year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for her
work toward a ban on anti-personnel (AP) mines.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Mr. Axworthy took the occasion to present a report, entitled </font><font face="Arial Italic">One Year Later: Is the Ottawa Convention Making a
Difference</font><font face="Arial">?, which chronicles the global progress in the fight against AP mines in the year since the Ottawa
Convention opened for signature. The report also provides details of Canada's more than $47 million in mine
action commitments, to date, through the five-year, $100 million Canadian Landmine Fund, which was
announced last December by Prime Minister Chrétien.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Fund is jointly administered by Mr. Axworthy and Madame Marleau, along with Industry Minister John
Manley and Minister of National Defence Art Eggleton.</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">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">André Doren</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Co-operation and</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister responsible for La Francophonie</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(819) 997-6919</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canadian International Development Agency</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(819) 953-6534</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">E-mail: info @acdi-cida.gc.ca</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Internet: http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">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 align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">Backgrounder</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">CANADA'S NEWEST MINE ACTION INITIATIVES</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"><strong>Croatia</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A contribution of $100 000 to the Mine Action Centre, which will support mine clearance and marking of mine
fields, as well as the deployment of mine detection dogs.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>Chad </strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A contribution of $100 000 to the Mine Action Centre for survey equipment and funding for a technical expert to
run and operate the database system with a view to starting a level 1 survey. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>Jordan</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A contribution of $300 000 in support of Jordanian demining efforts in the Jordan Valley. Canada, Norway and
Israel are working together in support of this effort.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>Kosovo</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A contribution of $950 000 to the UN Mine Action Service in support of a preliminary assessment mission in
Kosovo, in response to reports from UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Children's
Fund (UNICEF) that mines are interfering with return of internally displaced people and with the delivery of
humanitarian assistance. The mission will concentrate on gathering information, but is also capable of mine
clearance and mine awareness.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>Mozambique </strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A contribution of $100 000 to support the UN Development Program's (UNDP) accelerated demining program
involving training in survey, personnel and database management. Canada has also joined a Canadian Auto
Workers (CAW) initiative for mine clearance, victim assistance and advocacy, working with local and
international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Canada is contributing $225 000 in matching funds to
this $1.25 million CAW project.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>Ukraine</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Agreement reached in October for Canada and Ukraine to work together on stockpile destruction.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"><strong>Yemen </strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">A contribution of $950 000 to the UN Mine Action Service to support the conduct of a level 1 survey to set
national priorities for mine action. Canada is also working with Med-Eng Inc. and Advantists Development Relief
Agency (ADRA) Canada to buy $100 000 of protective gear for Yemen's deminers.</font></p>
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