September 10, 1998 No. 208

CANADA HOSTS FIRST ARCTIC COUNCIL

MINISTERIAL MEETING IN IQALUIT

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Jane Stewart will host the first ministerial meeting of the Arctic Council in Iqaluit, in Canada's eastern Arctic, from September 17 to 18, 1998.

Delegates from eight countries and three international organizations representing Indigenous peoples will review and approve plans for the Council's work for the next two years. They will also welcome a fourth Indigenous organization to the table. The meeting will end Canada's two-year term as first chair of the Council; the Council was launched in Ottawa in September 1996.

"Arctic nations share an environment and many common interests, and co-operative efforts between nations can make a difference in the lives of Northerners," said Minister Axworthy. "This Council meeting is an opportunity for governments, Indigenous peoples and other participants to discuss those interests and establish some priorities and plans for the next few years.

Since the Council was inaugurated two years ago, working groups have been focussing on co-operative approaches on a range of issues. Ministers will review action plans in areas such as the protection of the marine environment; preventing and responding to environmental emergencies; and conserving arctic flora and fauna. They will also discuss priorities for co-operation in health, education and economic development.

"The Arctic region is a fundamental part of Canada's society, economy and geography. As we make progress with northern Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples on the many issues before us in the North, we must continue to strengthen partnerships with our circumpolar neighbours. The two agendas are inextricably linked," said Minister Stewart.

The Council builds on the effective international co-operation between circumpolar countries, begun in 1991 under the earlier Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS), which now comes under the umbrella of the Council.

The Arctic Council brings together eight circumpolar countries: Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.

The Council is also unique among international bodies for involving on a permanent basis a representation of northern Indigenous peoples as Permanent Participants. The three Permanent Participants at present are the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Saami Council, and the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North. Accredited Observers include non-Arctic states and non-governmental organizations.

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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 (DFAIT)

(613) 995-1874

Kelly Ronan

Office of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

(819) 997-0002

Steve Outhouse

Media Relations, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND)

(819) 997-8404

Steven Joudry

Nunavut Secretariat, Iqaluit

(867) 979-1605

This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Other Web sites:

DFAIT: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca search "Arctic"

DIAND: http://www.inac.gc.ca/sds/index.html

Arctic Council Secretariat: http://www.nrc.ca/arctic/about.html