May 11, 1998 No. 117

CANADA AND NORWAY FORM NEW PARTNERSHIP

ON HUMAN SECURITY

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced in Bergen, Norway, the establishment of a new partnership between Canada and Norway to take action on human security issues. The announcement was made at the conclusion of meetings between

Mr. Axworthy and his Norwegian counterpart, Mr. Knut Vollebæk.

Outlined in the Lysœn Declaration signed by the two Ministers, the partnership commits Canada and Norway to a framework for consultation and concerted action in the areas of enhancing human security, promoting human rights, strengthening humanitarian law, preventing conflict, and fostering democracy and good governance.

"As we saw in the development of the Landmines Treaty, "soft power" techniques, such as ideas, negotiation and bridge building, have become effective new tools of international diplomacy," said Mr. Axworthy. "Canada's partnership with Norway throughout the process that led to the Treaty demonstrates that our shared values and approaches to foreign policy can make a difference in the international agenda. We want to build on that success and expand it to other areas."

Ministers Axworthy and Vollebæk will meet at least once a year to review progress, set priorities and impart direction, and bilateral teams will develop and implement joint activities. Partnerships between governments, international and non-governmental organizations, and other elements of civil society will be developed and enhanced throughout the process.

The two Ministers agreed to an agenda for action including: the landmines issue; the establishment of an international criminal court; human rights; international humanitarian law; women and children in armed conflict; small arms proliferation; child soldiers; child labour; and northern and Arctic co-operation.

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The Lysœn Declaration and the Partnership Agenda are attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

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

Backgrounder

NORWAY-CANADA PARTNERSHIP FOR ACTION

THE LYSŒN DECLARATION

Norway and Canada share common values and approaches to foreign policy. With the evolution of international affairs, particularly with regard to emerging human security issues, we have agreed to establish a framework for consultation and concerted action.

Shared Objectives

To enhance foreign policy consultations and co-operation on priority issues of international concern.

To strengthen Arctic and northern co-operation.

To co-ordinate and concert actions with a view to:

enhancing human security;

promoting human rights;

strengthening humanitarian law;

preventing conflict; and

fostering democracy and good governance.

To develop and enhance partnerships between governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and other elements of civil society.

Framework

To achieve these foreign policy objectives, we agree to establish a flexible framework for consultation and co-operation, to include:

Ministerial meetings at least once a year to review progress, set priorities and impart direction.

Bilateral teams to develop and implement joint ministerial initiatives.

Meetings to be held alternately in Norway and Canada or, where convenient, on the margins of international meetings.

In pursuing these goals, we will seek the advice and involvement of civil society and relevant international bodies.

Using the bilateral co-operation framework as a basis, we intend, where practicable, to involve other countries as well.

Bergen, May 11, 1998

PARTNERSHIP AGENDA

1. Landmines

2. International Criminal Court

3. Human rights

4. International humanitarian law

5. Women and children in armed conflict

6. Small arms proliferation

7. Child soldiers

8. Child labour

9. Arctic and northern co-operation