January 16, 1998 No. 15

AXWORTHY TO ATTEND EURO-ARCTIC COUNCIL IN SWEDEN AND TO VISIT ICELAND AND GREENLAND

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will travel to Sweden, Iceland, and Greenland from January 19 to 21. In Luleå, he will attend the Barents Euro-Arctic Council which meets on January 19 and 20. The Canadian delegation to the Council also includes Mrs. Mary Simon, Canada's Ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs, and the Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Mrs. Nancy Karetak-Lindell.

The Barents Euro-Arctic Council comprises representatives of the Nordic countries, Russia and the European Union Commission (EC). Canada, the current chair of the Arctic Council, is an observer to the organization. Formed in 1993, it fosters co-operation among its members on sustainable development issues such as environmental protection, health, infrastructure and energy. The Council is also concerned about the economic, social and cultural well-being of indigenous peoples. With the exception of the EC, its members also make up a large part of the membership of the Arctic Council.

Barents Ministers will sign a Declaration reviewing accomplishments to date and setting out a framework for future action.

"Canada shares many of the objectives of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council for the circumpolar North," said Minister Axworthy. "I welcome the opportunity to compare experiences with a group of partners dedicated to finding a sustainable balance between traditional ways of life and economic development in the North. The links that we develop through these consultations, and the shared lessons learned, should benefit northerners from the entire circumpolar region."

The Minister will travel from Luleå to Reykjavik, Iceland on January 20 where he will meet with President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Prime Minister David Oddson, and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Halldor Asgrimsson, in order to strengthen ties and expand trade between Canada and Iceland.

On January 21, the Minister will pay a brief visit to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, in order to meet with Premier Jonathan Motzfeldt and Minister of Health, Environment and Research, Mrs. Marianne Jensen, to help reinforce the cultural and economic links between communities on either side of the Davis Strait.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca