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<title>AXWORTHY TO CONTINUE KOSOVO DISCUSSIONS WITH G-8 COUNTERPARTS</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">June 7, 1999 <em>(4:30 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 132 </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">AXWORTHY TO CONTINUE KOSOVO DISCUSSIONS WITH </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">G-8 COUNTERPARTS</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that he will attend a meeting of G-8 Foreign Ministers
tomorrow to continue discussions on Kosovo, which began this afternoon. The talks will take place in Cologne,
where the group's annual meeting is scheduled to begin on June 9.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Progress was made today at the G-8 Foreign Ministers meeting toward finalizing the text of a United Nations
Security Council resolution on Kosovo," said Mr. Axworthy. "We look forward to continuing our efforts
tomorrow, and then working with our Security Council counterparts in New York to pass this resolution as soon
as possible."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Issues to be discussed later this week in Cologne include many elements of Canada's human security policy,
including protection of civilians, safeguarding the rights of children, small arms, the export of conventional
weapons, anti-personnel mines, terrorism, drugs and transnational crime. Other topics include conflict
prevention, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and regional crises. </font><font face="Arial">A meeting will also be held to
advance the establishment of a Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. The Pact aims to strengthen the efforts
of countries in the region to foster stability through peaceful, democratic development, respect for human rights,
and economic prosperity.</font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"This has been a very challenging year for the international community," said </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Mr. Axworthy. "While I expect that Kosovo will top the agenda, my G-8 counterparts will also discuss how we
can apply the principles of human security in a practical way to deal with problems that are occurring in many
other parts of the world. "</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The G-8 Foreign Ministers meeting will be followed by that of the G-7 Finance Ministers in Frankfurt on June 12
and by the G-8 Leaders Summit from June 18 to 20 in Cologne. </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>
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