October 1, 1996 No. 178

CANADA TO HOST ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES CONFERENCE

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Canada will host an International Strategy Conference on anti-personnel (AP) mines in Ottawa, October 3-5.

"Last week at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, I hosted a meeting of countries that are interested in advancing the AP mines issue. I was struck by the tremendous momentum that is building against these terrible weapons," said Mr. Axworthy. "This conference is unique in that it will deal with all aspects of the issue -- the ban, mine clearance and victim rehabilitation -- in an integrated fashion. I am confident that our consultations will lay a solid foundation for the elimination of AP mines," he added.

Entitled "Towards a Global Ban on Anti-Personnel (AP) Mines," the Conference will bring together representatives of some 70 governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international agencies and the United Nations. The objective of the Conference is to raise the profile of the AP mines crisis and to direct international, regional and national action toward a global ban.

Individual governments will be represented by senior officials, and many of the delegations are expected to include representatives of NGOs active in the area of AP mines. Minister Axworthy, National Defence Minister David Collenette and Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la Francophonie Pierre S. Pettigrew will be participating on behalf of the Government of Canada.

The Government of Canada is holding the Conference in collaboration with Mines Action Canada, a coalition representing

37 international development, peace, public health, human rights and faith NGOs.

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A preliminary calendar of media events is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Catherine Lappe

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

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

PRELIMINARY CALENDAR OF MEDIA EVENTS

Launch of "Living with Landmines Simulation." Opening remarks by Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan.

Location: Agriculture Museum, Central Experimental Farm

Time: 1000 - 1100 hrs

Launch of War Museum Exhibit. Ribbon-cutting ceremony to be attended by Minister of National Defence David Collenette and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy.

Location: National War Museum

Time: 1200 - 1400 hrs

Background briefing for media by Ralph Lysyshyn, Director General, International Security Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Chair, International Strategy Conference.

Location: The Commonwealth Room, #238-S

Centre Block, Parliament Hill

Time: 1530 - 1630 hrs

Panel Discussion: "Exploitation or Explanation -- Media Portrayals of the Landmine Crisis." Panelists include Chris Cushing (CARE Canada), Philip Winslow (former foreign correspondent), Juliet O'Neill (Ottawa Citizen) and Ken Rutherford and Mohammed Usman Fitrat (Landmine Survivors Network). Moderator: Connie Watson (CBC Radio).

Location: Sussex Room, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1900 - 2130 hrs

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy and Minister of National Defence David Collenette open "Towards a Global Ban on Anti-Personnel (AP) Mines": International Strategy Conference. The Ministers will present opening remarks and will be followed by UN Under Secretary-General Yasushi Akashi and Chris Moon, representative of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Location: Main Hall, Government Conference Centre

Time: 0900 - 1000 hrs

Information Exchange I: states will report on their national AP mines policies.

Chair: Canada

Location: Main Hall, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1015 - 1230 hrs

Stephen Lewis, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, opens the Public Information Exhibits. Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn scheduled to speak.

Location: Rideau Street Foyer, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1230 - 1315 hrs

NGO/Parliamentarians Consultations.

Part I: Roundtable. "Setting the Stage: AP Mines and the International Community." Panelists include Stephen Lewis (UNICEF); Steve Goose (International Campaign to Ban Landmines); Ken Rutherford (Landmines Survivors Network) and Senator Peter Bosa (International Parliamentary Union).

Location: Sussex Room, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1530 - 1645 hrs

NGO/Parliamentarians Consultations.

Part II: Strategy Session. "NGO-Parliamentarian Agenda for Action." Panelists include Senator Patrick Leahy (USA); Ernie Regehr (Project Ploughshares); Jan Willem Bertens (European Parliament).

Chair: Francis LeBlanc, Member of Parliament (Canada) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Location: Sussex Room, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1700 - 1800 hrs

Public Mines Awareness and Fund-Raising Concert featuring Ashley MacIsaac.

Location: Ottawa Civic Centre

Time: 2000 - 2300 hrs

Cost: $26.75 - Tickets available at the door or call

1-800-361-4595

Open Session. Panel Presentation I: "Towards a Global Ban on AP Mines." Panelists include Cornelio Sommaruga, International Committee of the Red Cross; H.E. Ambassador Johan Molander (Sweden); Senator Patrick Leahy (USA) and Stephen Lewis, UNICEF.

Chair: Honourable Christine Stewart, Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)

Location: Main Hall, Government Conference Centre

Time: 0830 - 1030 hrs

Information Exchange II: discussion of regional actions to support a global ban.

Location: Main Hall, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1100 - 1230 hrs

NGO/Academic Panel. Panelists include Don Hubert (Dalhousie University); Peter Herby (Legal Division, International Committee of the Red Cross); Noala Skinner (Kings College, Cambridge); Calib Rossiter (Demilitarization for Democracy) and David Gowdey (author of Hidden Killers).

Moderator: Perez Morangi Nyamwange, POVOADA (Canada-Angola NGO)

Location: Sussex Room, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1430 - 1730 hrs

Panel Presentation II: " An Integrated Approach to the AP Mine Challenge." Panelists include Hans Klingenburg (Foreign Ministry, Denmark); Jerry White (Landmines Survivors Network); Ed Tsui (UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs) and Linda Tripp (Mines Action Canada).

Chair: Australia

Location: Main Hall, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1300 - 1500 hrs

Closing session to be attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy and Minister of National Defence David Collenette.

Location: Main Hall, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1530 - 1630 hrs

Wrap-up news conference.

Location: Sussex Room, Government Conference Centre

Time: 1630 - 1700 hrs