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<title>SECRETARY OF STATE STEWART TO ATTEND26TH OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN PANAMA</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">May 30, 1996 No. 100</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">SECRETARY OF STATE STEWART TO ATTEND</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">26th OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN PANAMA</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Secretary of State
(Latin America and Africa) Christine Stewart will attend the 26th General Assembly
of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama City, June 2 to 7, 1996.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"In the past few years, the OAS has demonstrated its determination to take action
and assert leadership in matters of the highest regional and global importance,"
said Mrs. Stewart. "The 1996 General Assembly marks a year of significant
achievement for the Organization."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Canada has played an active role in advancing many of the issues on the OAS
agenda. Canada will seek the support of OAS members for continued international
involvement in Haiti, to ensure the full entrenchment of peace and democracy in
that country. Canada will also co-sponsor a resolution to achieve a global ban on
anti-personnel land mines and to take specific action within the hemisphere to
advance this goal. In addition, Canada has been instrumental in bringing about
the full-scale restructuring of the OAS' technical co-operation regime, which will
culminate in the launching, at this assembly, of the new Inter-American Council
for Integral Development.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">While in Panama, Mrs. Stewart will meet with Panamanian ministers, and senior
representatives from the Caribbean and Central and South America. She will also
participate in a meeting of Foreign Ministers to review progress in implementing
the December 1994 Summit of the Americas' Plan of Action.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Mrs. Stewart will also announce Canada's offer to host the OAS General Assembly in
2000, which will mark Canada's 10th year of membership.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Catherine Lappe</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Director of Communications</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>
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