AXWORTHY TO ATTEND ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES WASHINGTON CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS
March 3, 1998 No. 42
AXWORTHY TO ATTEND
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
WASHINGTON CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will attend the first Organization of
American States (OAS) Washington Conference of the Americas, to be held March 5
to 6, 1998. He will join a select group of the Western Hemisphere's decision
makers, academics and institutions, to exchange views on the political, social
and economic development of the region.
Minister Axworthy will deliver the closing keynote address at the conference, and
will meet with Dr. César Gaviria, OAS Secretary-General, Enrique Iglesias,
President of the Inter-American Development Bank, and Sir George Alleyne,
Executive Director of the Pan American Health Organization. Mr. Axworthy will
also meet with U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D VT).
As well, the Minister will moderate a symposium on hemispheric issues with a
group of the region's Nobel laureates that includes Colombian novelist Gabriel
García Márquez, former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, and Canadian chemist
Dr. John Polanyi.
"This conference is an excellent opportunity to assess developments taking place
in the hemisphere as we set the stage for the Summit of the Americas in Santiago
in April," said Mr. Axworthy. "The Summit process is vital in guiding the
hemisphere's economic and social evolution, and benefits greatly from the
participation of key players such as the OAS."
"Canada welcomed the support of the many OAS nations that signed the
international convention banning anti-personnel mines," added the Minister.
"Canada also strongly supports the Central American states' declaration,
announced at the December 1997 landmines conference in Ottawa, to make the region
a landmine-free zone by the year 2000."
The conference agenda will closely mirror the key issues to be discussed at the
Summit in April: liberalized trade in the Americas; education; human rights and
democracy; and the elimination of poverty and discrimination.
Major institutions and organizations involved in the hemisphere's social,
political, and trade agenda will be represented at the conference, including the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; OAS bodies dealing with trade, social
development, and the environment; the World Bank; and major academic institutions
and think tanks focussed on inter-American issues.
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The media program for the conference is 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
Visit of The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada,
to the Organization of American States
Washington, D.C.
MEDIA PROGRAM
Thursday, March 5
0800-
0900 Press Accreditation, OAS Main Building
17th and Constitution, N.W.
0900-
1600 Conference of the Americas
1640 Press Assembles near the Fountain in the Atrium of the OAS Main Building
1705 Arrival of Minister Axworthy at the OAS
Photo Opportunity
Greeted by Ana O'Brien, OAS Chief of Protocol
Press is escorted to the Hall of the Americas (Second Floor) to take up positions
for the "The Encounter with the Nobel Laureates of the Americas."
TV Pool Coverage
A space will be set aside for one Canadian television crew immediately in front
of Minister Axworthy. Please co-ordinate in advance.
Open Coverage
1800 "The Encounter with the Nobel Laureates of the Americas"
Moderated by The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
Hall of the Americas
OAS Main Building (Second Floor)
2030 "The Encounter with the Nobel Laureates of the Americas" concludes
Friday, March 6
0800-
1630 Conference of the Americas continues
1430 Press assembles near the Fountain in the Atrium of the OAS Main Building,
17th and Constitution, N.W.
1445 Minister Axworthy arrives at the OAS Main Building
Greeted by Ms. Ana O'Brien
OAS Chief of Protocol
Photo Opportunity
Press will be escorted into the Hall outside the office of OAS Secretary-General Gaviria, to hold. They will enter the office for a photo opportunity
with Secretary-General Gaviria and Minister Axworthy, and then be escorted
out.
1515 Meeting with Dr. César Gaviria, OAS Secretary-General
Office of the Secretary-General
OAS Main Building (Second Floor)
TV Pool Coverage
Following the photo opportunity in the office, press will be escorted into the
Hall of the Americas to prepare for their coverage of the concluding keynote
address by Minister Axworthy. Again, a spot on the riser immediately facing
Minister Axworthy will be reserved for one Canadian crew. Please co-ordinate in
advance.
Open Coverage
1600 Keynote address to the first OAS Washington Conference of the Americas
Hall of the Americas
OAS Main Building (Second Floor)
1645 Media Availability (Salon San Martin)