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<title>AXWORTHY TO VISIT THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA TO HIGHLIGHT HUMAN SECURITY ISSUES</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">December 23, 1998 <em>(1:00 p.m. EST)</em> No. 296</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">AXWORTHY TO VISIT THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">TO HIGHLIGHT HUMAN SECURITY ISSUES</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that he will make official visits to Cuba, Jamaica,
Mexico and Nicaragua from January 7 to 12 to strengthen bilateral relations and further hemispheric co-operation on such issues as drugs, anti-personnel mines and human rights.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">"Canada takes its hemispheric responsibilities very seriously and is working closely with Caribbean and Latin
American partners to address a wide range of human security challenges," said Mr. Axworthy. "I will work with
representatives from the region to create a strong framework for dialogue, co-operation and action as Canada
prepares to host the next Summit of the Americas." </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">On January 7, Mr. Axworthy travels to Havana, where he will meet with Cuban Vice- President Carlos Lage and
Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina to review the current state of Canada-Cuba relations. This meeting takes
place two years after Minister Axworthy's first visit to Cuba, when he and Foreign Minister Robaina signed the
Canada-Cuba Joint Declaration. In addition to providing a framework for discussions on human rights, the
Declaration has helped strengthen relations between the two countries, notably in the areas of trade,
investment, tourism and technical </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">co-operation between governments and among universities and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister Axworthy travels to Jamaica on January 8, where he and Prime Minister </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">P. J. Patterson will discuss bilateral relations and the hemispheric Foreign Ministers Dialogue Group on Drugs.
Endorsed by leaders at the Santiago Summit last April, the Dialogue Group is a Canadian initiative to promote
discussion on drugs and human security issues. Mr. Axworthy will also tour inner-city projects funded by the
Canadian International Development Agency and will inspect newly delivered Canadian Bell-Textron helicopters
purchased by Jamaica.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">On January 10, Mr. Axworthy arrives in Mexico, where he will participate in the opening ceremony of a regional
conference on anti-personnel mines. The Conference, which is designed to advance the mine action agenda in
the Western Hemisphere, will focus on early ratification of the Ottawa Convention, humanitarian mine clearance
efforts and assistance to victims. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Mexico has been a partner of Canada throughout the Ottawa Process and we are delighted to be working with
them on this next important phase of the effort to eliminate anti-personnel mines," said Mr. Axworthy. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">While in Mexico, Minister Axworthy is scheduled to deliver a speech at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de
Mexico discussing human security challenges for the next millennium. Mr. Axworthy and Mexican Foreign
Minister Rosario Green will also hold bilateral discussions and co-chair a roundtable on North American co-operation and other topics with leading Mexican academics and opinion makers.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In Nicaragua, on January 11, Minister Axworthy will meet with President Arnoldo Aléman and Nicaraguan
Foreign Minister Eduardo Montealegre, and will survey the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch. He will also
meet with Canadian NGO disaster relief representatives. Canada has committed $9.5 million in emergency
humanitarian aid<strong> </strong>to Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, as well as an additional $100 million to
the long-term building of Central America. Canada has as well announced $3.7 million for mine action programs
in Central America, where Hurricane Mitch has displaced thousands of landmines and complicated the process
of reconstruction.</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">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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