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<title>ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CANADA</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1">September 24, 1999 <em>(4:45 p.m. EDT)</em> No. 213</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT CANADA</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister, Vartan
Oskanian, will make an official visit to Canada from September 25 to 28, starting his visit in Toronto and
continuing to Montreal and Ottawa.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Canada is encouraged to see that Armenia is among the front-runners in undertaking key economic and
political reforms," said Mr. Axworthy. "Mr. Oskanian's visit is an excellent opportunity to deepen Canadian-Armenian ties and to discuss human security, Kosovo, and regional political and economic stability."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Armenian Minister's first visit to Canada will begin in Toronto, on September 25, where he will attend a
reception hosted by Minister of Transport David Collenette, followed by a dinner given by the Armenian
community.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Mr. Oskanian will meet with the Canadian-Armenian Business Council in Toronto before travelling to Montreal
for an event hosted by the Montreal chapter of the Canadian-Armenian Business Council on September 26.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister Oskanian will meet Minister Axworthy on September 27. He will also meet Deputy Prime Minister Herb
Gray and the Speaker of the Senate, Gildas Molgat. </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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