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<title>KILGOUR - VISIT TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND</title>
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<p><strong>February 26, 2002 No. 30</strong></p>
<p>Media representatives are advised that David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific), will visit Australia and New
Zealand from March 1 to 8, 2002. </p>
<p>In Coolum, Australia, Mr. Kilgour will participate in meetings of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)
and the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Small States, both taking place on Friday, March 1.</p>
<p>Established in 1995 at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, CMAG investigates
serious and persistent violations of the Harare principles--democratic standards agreed to by all Commonwealth countries
in 1991. Present members are Botswana (chair), Barbados (vice-chair), Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Malaysia, Nigeria
and the United Kingdom.</p>
<p>CMAG will report to this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, taking place from March 2 to 5 in
Coolum, Australia, on situations in Zimbabwe, Fiji, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands and the Gambia.</p>
<p>The Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Small States, established at the 1991 Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting in Zimbabwe, seeks to help small countries overcome the unique challenges they face, including vulnerability to
economic shocks and threats to sovereignty, security and natural resources. </p>
<p>In Sydney (March 3 and 4), Mr. Kilgour will meet with New South Wales state parliamentarians and participate in a round
table discussion on Canada as an Asia-Pacific nation at the University of Western Sydney. From there he will travel to
Canberra (March 5) where he will meet with the President of the Australian Senate and senior Australian Aboriginal leaders
as well as participate in a round table on challenges in the Pacific region with government officials and academics.</p>
<p>The Secretary of State will visit New Zealand from March 6 to 8. In Wellington (March 6 and 7), he will meet with
parliamentarians and senior officials from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and deliver an address
to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs.</p>
<p><strong>Media opportunities are scheduled as follows:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Event:</strong> Round table with faculty and students of the University of Western Sydney's Centre for Canadian Studies (open to
media)</p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Monday, March 4</p>
<p><strong>Time:</strong> 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Parmatta Campus, University of Western Sydney</p>
<p><strong>Event:</strong> Address to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs on "Canada as an Asia-Pacific Nation" (photo
opportunity and media availability)</p>
<p><strong>Date</strong>: Wednesday, March 6</p>
<p><strong>Time:</strong> 5:30 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Victoria University, Wellington</p>
<p>For more information, please contact:</p>
<table border="1" width="100%" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1">
<tr valign="TOP"><td>Jacqueline O'Neill
<p>Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)</p>
<p>(613) 944-2162</p>
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<td>Media Relations Office
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221042515/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></td></tr></table>
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