March 3, 1998 No. 41

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT

TO MAKE OFFICIAL VISIT TO CANADA

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that

Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State of the United States, will visit Ottawa from March 9 to 10, 1998.

The visit will focus on developments that have taken place in Canada-U.S. relations since the visit of Prime Minister Chrétien to Washington in April 1997. During the visit, the Secretary of State and Minister Axworthy will discuss bilateral issues such as Pacific salmon, environmental co-operation, and Canada-U.S. border collaboration. Secretary of State Albright's visit will also provide an important opportunity for both countries to exchange views on a broad range of international topics including the United Nations, the Middle East, Nigeria, Haiti, and the Santiago Summit to be held in April 1998.

"Canada and the United States enjoy close political co-operation in both the bilateral and multilateral arenas," said

Mr. Axworthy. "Our bilateral relationship is the largest, healthiest, and most prosperous in the world."

Secretary of State Albright's visit is the first official visit of a U.S. Secretary of State in a decade. While in Ottawa, Secretary of State Albright will also meet with Prime Minister Chrétien and other Cabinet ministers, and with representatives from academia, the media, and business.

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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