May 12, 1998 No. 120

CANADA RECALLS HIGH COMMISSIONER TO INDIA

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced in London that Canada's High Commissioner in New Delhi is being recalled to Canada following the nuclear weapons test explosions carried out by India yesterday.

"We are recalling our High Commissioner to India as a first concrete step in signalling our disapproval to the Indian government," stated Mr. Axworthy. "We will be consulting with High Commissioner Walker to determine the best course of action in response to India's clear breach of international security."

In Ottawa today, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) Raymond Chan reiterated that "Canada strongly urges India to sign on to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. We also urge countries in the region to show restraint in their reaction to yesterday's incident."

Peter Walker has been Canada's High Commissioner to India since October 1997. He will be returning to Canada this week for an indeterminate period of time.

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