October 17, 2005 (2:00 p.m. EDT)
No. 187

U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE TO VISIT CANADA

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will visit Ottawa from October 24 to 25, 2005.

“No two countries in the world share a more close-knit partnership than Canada and the U.S.” said Minister Pettigrew. “Our two countries work side by side every hour of every day in areas vital to both our interests. However, it is face-to-face engagements that allow us to consolidate that work, and to represent our respective nations on a more personal level. I am very pleased to welcome Secretary Rice.”

Minister Pettigrew and Secretary of State Rice are expected to discuss a wide range of bilateral, hemispheric and global issues in which Canada and the U.S. share common interests. Secretary of State Rice is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Paul Martin.

This will be Secretary of State  Rice's first official visit to Canada in her current capacity. She also visited Canada as National Security Advisor to President Bush during the President’s November 2004 visit to Ottawa.

For more information on Canada-U.S. relations, please visit:

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/can-am/main/menu-en.asp

- 30 -

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca