May 30, 1996 No. 100

SECRETARY OF STATE STEWART TO ATTEND

26th OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN PANAMA

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) Christine Stewart will attend the 26th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Panama City, June 2 to 7, 1996.

"In the past few years, the OAS has demonstrated its determination to take action and assert leadership in matters of the highest regional and global importance," said Mrs. Stewart. "The 1996 General Assembly marks a year of significant achievement for the Organization."

Canada has played an active role in advancing many of the issues on the OAS agenda. Canada will seek the support of OAS members for continued international involvement in Haiti, to ensure the full entrenchment of peace and democracy in that country. Canada will also co-sponsor a resolution to achieve a global ban on anti-personnel land mines and to take specific action within the hemisphere to advance this goal. In addition, Canada has been instrumental in bringing about the full-scale restructuring of the OAS' technical co-operation regime, which will culminate in the launching, at this assembly, of the new Inter-American Council for Integral Development.

While in Panama, Mrs. Stewart will meet with Panamanian ministers, and senior representatives from the Caribbean and Central and South America. She will also participate in a meeting of Foreign Ministers to review progress in implementing the December 1994 Summit of the Americas' Plan of Action.

Mrs. Stewart will also announce Canada's offer to host the OAS General Assembly in 2000, which will mark Canada's 10th year of membership.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Catherine Lappe

Director of Communications

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(613) 995-1851

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(613) 995-1874