January 15, 1998 No. 12

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY AND EUROPEAN COMMISSION VICE-PRESIDENT TO VISIT CANADA

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Robin Cook, Chair of the General Affairs Council of the European Union, will visit Ottawa on January 16. Foreign Secretary Cook will be accompanied by Sir Leon Brittan, Vice-President of the European Commission. Great Britain holds the rotating Presidency of the European Union (EU) until June.

This will be Mr. Cook's first official visit to Canada since his appointment as Foreign Secretary following the national election in Britain last May.

"During the visit, we will review mutual foreign policy concerns for Canada and both the European Union and the United Kingdom, including Algeria, Bosnia, Iraq, and the Middle East Peace Process," said Minister Axworthy. "Our discussions will be in preparation for the Canada-EU Summit in May, and to evaluate the progress of the Canada-UK Joint Declaration to revitalize our bilateral relations."

"In a bilateral meeting, Foreign Secretary Cook and I will discuss issues such as the situation in Nigeria, the implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, and the establishment of an International Criminal Court," said Mr. Axworthy. "I also look forward to a briefing from Foreign Secretary Cook on the situation in Northern Ireland."

Minister Axworthy, Foreign Secretary Cook and Vice-President Brittan will participate in a Conference Board of Canada symposium entitled Europe Towards the New Millennium: The Relevance to Canada. Vice-President Brittan will also meet with Finance Minister Paul Martin during the visit.

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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