May 15, 1998 No. 126

KILGOUR TO DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS

WITH CARIBBEAN LEADERS

Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) David Kilgour will visit Barbados, Grenada and Guyana from May 17 to 23 to discuss bilateral relations.

"Canada has a longstanding and warm relationship with Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) countries. This visit will provide the opportunity for constructive dialogue on issues of mutual concern and on areas where we can strengthen our bilateral co-operation," said Kilgour. "To promote global prosperity, we must work together in partnership with the CARICOM region to face the challenges of economic integration under the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)."

While in Barbados from May 18 to 19, Kilgour will meet with government leaders, including Prime Minister Owen Arthur, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Home Affairs and Attorney General, and the Minister of International Trade and Business. He will meet with representatives from the CARICOM Trade Secretariat and the Caribbean Development Bank, as well as with the Brigadier-General of the Barbados Defence Force.

In Grenada, on May 20, he will meet Prime Minister Keith Mitchell and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In Guyana, from May 21 to 23, he will meet President Janet Jagan, the Finance Minister, and the CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General.

During these meetings, Kilgour will discuss regional security, narcotics smuggling and money laundering, ratification of the landmines treaty, Canada's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council, and the concerns of smaller economies in the FTAA process.

CARICOM was established in 1973 to promote greater unity among countries of the Caribbean. One of the organization's main objectives is the economic integration of its 14 members into a single market and economy by 2000. CARICOM also provides services to assist co-operation in areas such as transportation, environment, health, education, culture, communications and industrial relations.

Kilgour's visit follows several events in Canada-CARICOM relations. Prime Minister Chrétien last month co-hosted the Fifth Canada-CARICOM Heads of Government Summit in the Bahamas. In March, International Trade Minister Marchi met with CARICOM trade ministers in Costa Rica.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sara Mohsin

Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)

(613) 992-9404

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