
Français		Home		Contact Us		Help		Search		canada.gc.ca		Canada International

Home > Media Room

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

Canadian Offices Abroad

Services for Canadian Travellers

Services for Business

Canada in the World

About the Department

SPEECHES

2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996

Print friendly version - Printing Tips

<html> <head> <meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8"> <title>JOINT STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE VISIT TO CUBA OF CANADA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER THE HONOURABLE LLOYD AXWORTHY - HAVANA, CUBA</title> </head> <body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"> 99/1 JOINT STATEMENT ON THE OCCASION OF THE VISIT TO CUBA OF CANADA'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER THE HONOURABLE LLOYD AXWORTHY HAVANA, Cuba January 7, 1999 (7:30 p.m. EST) This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca On January 7, 1999, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, met in Havana with the Foreign Minister of Cuba, Roberto Robaina. Cuban Vice-President Carlos Lage was also present at the meeting. They reviewed the state of bilateral relations, including areas where co-operation could be enhanced and new joint activity undertaken. Ministers Axworthy and Robaina also discussed issues linked to globalization and Canada's foreign policy activity in the area of human security and the preparations under way in anticipation of the Canadian-hosted Summit of the Americas. In addition, views were exchanged on socio-economic problems of Central America and the Caribbean, and on the need to ensure greater international co-ordination in preparing for, and responding to, natural disasters in the region. This meeting marked the two-year anniversary of the Canada-Cuba Joint Declaration signed by Ministers Axworthy and Robaina in Havana. That undertaking established a program of co-operation in 14 areas, which has greatly assisted in strengthening relations between the two countries. Ministers Axworthy and Robaina noted that activity is under way on all items identified in the Joint Declaration, and agreed that this work should continue and be deepened. They concurred that the January 1997 Joint Declaration continues to provide a key framework for Canada-Cuba co-operation, while emphasizing that co-operation is not and should not be limited to the matters identified in the Declaration. Over the past two years, the development and enrichment of bilateral relations has continued, and senior level bilateral discussions have occurred during which additional prospects have been analysed. Especially noteworthy in this regard were Vice-President Lage's visit to Canada in February 1998 and the visit to Cuba in April 1998 by the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien. Bilateral economic relations continue to expand, in terms of trade, investment, tourism, sports and technical co-operation, between governments and among universities and non-governmental organizations in both countries. Today, Ministers Axworthy and Robaina signed a Transfer of Offenders Treaty that will strengthen bilateral consular relations by allowing a citizen of one country, who has been convicted and incarcerated in the other country, to be transferred to a penal institution in the offender's home state. Further to Point 8 of the Joint Declaration, the Ministers also signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will facilitate co-operation in combatting the common problem of illicit narcotics trafficking. Both Ministers agreed that further bilateral co-operation in this area would make an important contribution to confronting this serious regional and global problem. Recalling the mutual commitment made in Points 1 and 3 of the Joint Declaration, the Foreign Ministers noted the preparatory work under way to develop action plans for co-operation in the area of the administration of justice and the judicial-legal system, and with respect to the Office for Attention to the Public of the National Assembly. The Foreign Ministers welcomed the prospect that concrete activities would begin soon in both these areas. They also welcomed further co-operation under Point 4, and specifically the announcement that Cuba would host a Canada-Cuba workshop on women's issues, May 5 to 7, 1999. The Foreign Ministers reiterated their respective Governments' support for undertaking joint co-operation with third countries, as stipulated in Point 13 of the Joint Declaration. They renewed their commitment to continue exploring actively prospects for joint co-operation with other countries. They also confirmed that in 1999, consultations will continue on a bilateral investment accord and on implementing international anti-terrorism conventions. In addition, Ministers Axworthy and Robaina examined the good progress of the bilateral food program, and of the projects of support for social sectors. The Foreign Ministers reported on new co-operation in the areas of education and the environment, in particular with regard to postgraduate studies for Cuban academics in Canada, and the approval of new Canadian government program funding for university partnerships, specifically for two projects: environmental health risk assessment and coastal zone management. These projects will strengthen the capacity of Cuban institutions in the environmental area. Ministers Axworthy and Robaina agreed that the meeting today marked another useful step in strengthening Canada-Cuba relations on the basis of mutual respect and commitment. </body> </html>

2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - 1998 - 1997 - 1996

Print friendly version - Printing Tips



Last Updated: 2006-10-30	Top of Page	Important Notices