May 26, 1998 No. 132

AXWORTHY TO ATTEND NATO MEETINGS

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy announced today that he will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ministerial Meetings in Luxembourg on May 28 and 29, 1998.

The North Atlantic Council, the decision-making body of NATO, will discuss the renewal of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia. Mr. Axworthy will also participate in the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council marking the first anniversary of the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act on Security and

Co-operation. Meetings of the NATO-Ukraine Commission and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council will also mark a year of progress in building these relationships.

"The continuation of SFOR in Bosnia and NATO's role in maintaining stability in the Balkans as a whole will be at the centre of our concern, particularly in light of developments in Kosovo." Mr. Axworthy said. "We will need to ensure that NATO, in co-operation with its partners, makes a full contribution to building security in Europe in the coming years."

NATO's process of adaptation and enlargement is well under way. The partnership arrangements with Russia, Ukraine and other European countries are making significant contributions to security and co-operation in the Euro-Atlantic region. NATO is now examining its strategic concept and looking beyond its 50th anniversary next year.

Canada's main objectives at the Luxembourg meetings are to ensure that NATO continues to build on the achievements since the Madrid Summit, and to remain a strong organization with a clear vision of its role and confident in its ability to contribute to European and international security.

While in Luxembourg, Mr. Axworthy will also take the opportunity to raise with his counterparts Canada's bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

- 30 -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