December 15, 1998 (4:15 p.m. EST) No. 293

AXWORTHY TRAVELS TO NEW YORK TO ADVANCE

CANADA'S SECURITY AGENDA

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will be in New York on December 18 to undertake a number of activities aimed at advancing Canada's international security agenda.

Key among these will be the Minister's meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss a range of global and human security issues. He will also meet with UNSCOM Executive Chairman Richard Butler to discuss the current situation in Iraq. Minister Axworthy will as well make Canada a State Party to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by depositing Canada's instrument of ratification with the Secretary-General, and will sign, on behalf of Canada, the Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC). He will also meet with the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of various countries to discuss the emphasis that Canada will place on human security issues during its upcoming term on the UN Security Council.

Canada was among the first countries to sign the CTBT when it opened for signature in September 1996. The deposit of Canada's instrument of ratification was made possible by Parliament's passage of implementing legislation this fall, and will place Canada among the first countries to ratify. The Treaty, signed by 151 States, recognizes that halting all nuclear weapons test explosions, and all other nuclear explosions, constitutes an effective measure of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Canada is playing a key role in organizing a Conference of States for the autumn of 1999 to explore ways of facilitating the Treaty's early entry into force.

"The CTBT is an important part of Canada's efforts over the past years to construct an effective international nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime," said

Mr. Axworthy. "By ratifying, Canada will help to enhance the strength of this regime.

I urge all States that have not signed the Treaty to do so immediately and without conditions."

Canada also played a leadership role in the development of the ICC. Throughout the preparatory negotiations, Canada chaired a group of over 60 "like-minded" states with a shared commitment to a strong Court. In addition, Canadian Philippe Kirsch chaired the difficult negotiations of the Diplomatic Conference in Rome at which the Statute was adopted last July.

The ICC will have jurisdiction over genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the negotiations, Canada succeeded in ensuring in the Statute that violence against women and the military recruitment of children under the age of 15 are recognized as war crimes. The Court will have an independent prosecutor able to initiate proceedings.

"The time has come to build new institutions which will provide greater security to ordinary citizens", said Mr. Axworthy. "By helping to uphold the rule of law, this Court will serve in the long run to promote international stability."

The Department of Justice is examining Canadian legislation and facilitating any necessary amendments to ensure that Canada is in compliance with its obligations under the ICC Statute, so that Canada may ratify the Statute as soon as possible. The ICC Statute will enter into force once 60 States have ratified it.

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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