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<title>AXWORTHY TO VISIT THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA </title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">March 25, 1998 No. 70</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">AXWORTHY TO VISIT THE </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy will visit Skopje in the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) from March </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">28 to 29. Mr. Axworthy will be the first Canadian Foreign Minister to visit
FYROM.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"The region is at a turning point," said Minister Axworthy. "We are seeing
positive developments such as the consolidation of democracy and economic reforms
in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Unfortunately, the region is also a
source of major concern as illustrated by recent events in Kosovo." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">FYROM has a large Albanian population and it is feared that violence in Kosovo
could have a negative impact in that country. The Minister added that in
visiting Skopje, he hoped to demonstrate Canada's support for stability in the
region.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"While Canada has already announced a number of measures to pressure Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic to end the violence and to take positive steps in
Kosovo, we also want to encourage neighbouring FYROM to continue its path to
democracy and prosperity, and to build peaceful coexistence between ethnic
groups," said Minister Axworthy.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">While in Skopje, Minister Axworthy will meet with President Kiro Gligorov and
Foreign Minister Blagoj Handziski, as well as with a number of ethnic-Albanian
leaders from FYROM to discuss the situation in the region, and Canada's
continuing support.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Following his visit to FYROM, Mr. Axworthy will travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to
address the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on March 30.</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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