March 25, 1998 No. 70

AXWORTHY TO VISIT THE

FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy will visit Skopje in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) from March

28 to 29. Mr. Axworthy will be the first Canadian Foreign Minister to visit FYROM.

"The region is at a turning point," said Minister Axworthy. "We are seeing positive developments such as the consolidation of democracy and economic reforms in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Unfortunately, the region is also a source of major concern as illustrated by recent events in Kosovo."

FYROM has a large Albanian population and it is feared that violence in Kosovo could have a negative impact in that country. The Minister added that in visiting Skopje, he hoped to demonstrate Canada's support for stability in the region.

"While Canada has already announced a number of measures to pressure Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to end the violence and to take positive steps in Kosovo, we also want to encourage neighbouring FYROM to continue its path to democracy and prosperity, and to build peaceful coexistence between ethnic groups," said Minister Axworthy.

While in Skopje, Minister Axworthy will meet with President Kiro Gligorov and Foreign Minister Blagoj Handziski, as well as with a number of ethnic-Albanian leaders from FYROM to discuss the situation in the region, and Canada's continuing support.

Following his visit to FYROM, Mr. Axworthy will travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to address the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on March 30.

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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