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<title>APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF AIR NEGOTIATOR FOR CANADA</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font size="+1"><strong>June 27, 2001 <em>(10:20 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 89</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF AIR NEGOTIATOR FOR CANADA</strong></font></p>
<p>John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and David Collenette, Transport Minister, today announced that Duane Van
Beselaere has been appointed Chief Air Negotiator for Canada. He replaces Serge April who is now Canada's Ambassador
to the Netherlands.</p>
<p>"As Chief Air Negotiator, Mr. Van Beselaere is responsible for conducting negotiations to provide air services between
Canada and other countries," said Mr. Manley. "These negotiations are important to Canada's air carriers, airport
communities, tourists, business travellers, investors and shippers."</p>
<p>"Mr. Van Beselaere is well-suited to assume the duties of this position, having previously served as Canada's Chief Air
Negotiator from November 1994 to August 1997," said Mr. Collenette. "He is well respected by domestic and international
stakeholders."</p>
<p>During his former tenure as Chief Air Negotiator, Mr. Van Beselaere concluded the negotiation of the Canada-U.S. Open
Skies Agreement. </p>
<p>- 30 -</p>
<p>Biographical notes on Mr. Van Beselaere are attached.</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Sanjeev Chowdhury</p>
<p>Press Secretary </p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p>Sue Ronald</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Transport</p>
<p>(613) 991-0700</p>
<p>Brian McGregor</p>
<p>Transport Canada Communications</p>
<p>(613) 993-0055</p>
<p>This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site:
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220203008/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>Biographical Notes</strong></font></p>
<p><strong>Duane Van Beselaere</strong> joined the Trade Commissioner Service of the Department of Trade and Commerce in 1966 after
completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree with specialization in Economics at the University of Saskatchewan in
Saskatoon.</p>
<p>Following completion of his training in Ottawa, Mr. Van Beselaere served in Sydney, Hamburg and Lagos in the trade and
industrial development portfolio.</p>
<p>On his return to Canada in 1977, Mr. Van Beselaere served in positions dealing with bilateral trade relations with Eastern
Europe and the United States in the Department of Industry, Trade and Commerce until 1981 when he was posted to the
Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C. as Counsellor (Commercial) responsible for agriculture, fisheries and forestry.</p>
<p>Mr. Van Beselaere returned to Ottawa in 1983 as Director, Services and General Trade Policy Division in the Department
of External Affairs with responsibility for multilateral trade policy issues and trade-in-services negotiations.</p>
<p>Mr. Van Beselaere was posted to Bonn as Minister-Counsellor (Commercial/Economic) in August 1988. On his return to
Ottawa, he assumed the position of Associate Chief Air Negotiator for Canada in April 1993. He subsequently served as
Chief Air Negotiator from November 1994 to August 1997, during which time he concluded the negotiation of the Canada-U.S. Open Skies Agreement.</p>
<p>From November 1997 until August 2000, Mr. Van Beselaere served as High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern
Caribbean. Since his return to Ottawa in September 2000, he has been Special Advisor, Trade Policy, in the Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade.</p>
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