April 28, 1999 (11:40 a.m. EDT) No. 94

AXWORTHY TRAVELS INTERNATIONALLY TO EXPLORE

DIPLOMATIC SOLUTIONS TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy will visit Russia, Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) and Egypt, April 29 to May 2, to explore how the international community can address the humanitarian situation in Kosovo and how a diplomatic resolution to the crisis can be reached.

Minister Axworthy will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov in Moscow on April 30 to review recent Russian efforts related to Kosovo, recognizing that both NATO and Russia have a strong interest in bringing long-term stability to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and to the Balkans region.

"The five conditions Mr. Milosevic must accept have been clearly set out by NATO, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the European Union. I will be seeking to develop a common view with Russia of what needs to be done to convince Mr. Milosevic to accept these conditions," Mr. Axworthy said. "Russian engagement is essential to allow the UN Security Council to play its role in the search for peace."

While in Moscow, Minister Axworthy will also meet with Mr. Annan. They will discuss possible UN and Security Council action to address the humanitarian crisis in and around Kosovo. Canada advocates an active Security Council role in helping to resolve the Kosovo crisis and recognizes that Russia, as a permanent member holding a veto over Security Council actions, has a crucial role to play.

Mr. Axworthy leaves Russia for Athens on April 30, where he plans to meet with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou. Greece, a NATO member, has played an important role in seeking to relieve the humanitarian crisis afflicting its immediate neighbours, Albania and FYR Macedonia, and Mr. Axworthy wishes to benefit from Greece's assessment of the requirements for maintaining stability in the region.

"At last weekend's Summit in Washington, NATO members met with representatives of the countries immediately surrounding Yugoslavia," said Mr. Axworthy. "The clear message, which I intend to reiterate in my upcoming meetings, was one of solidarity, in terms of both the front-line states' support for NATO's current action and NATO's resolve to support the immediate needs of these countries as well as their long-term political and economic stability."

Mr. Axworthy will be in Skopje, FYR Macedonia, May 1, where he will review with government leaders the social and financial pressures that have been placed on the country by the large influx of refugees driven by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from Kosovo. Mr. Axworthy will visit the Stenkovec refugee camp, where he will get a first-hand view of conditions and meet with Canadian aid workers. His visit follows the tour of the region earlier in the current conflict by Canada's special envoy Raphael Girard, Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and FYR Macedonia.

Later on May 1, Mr. Axworthy will travel to Cairo, Egypt, where he will meet with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, and seek his assessment of the conflict from his perspective as senior statesman of the Arab world. As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Egypt can play an important role in the efforts of the United Nations to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.

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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