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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>January 27, 2004 <em>(2:50 p.m. EST)</em> No. 10</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>NATO SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT CANADA</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and National Defence Minister David Pratt today
announced that the Secretary General of NATO, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, will visit
Ottawa on January 28 and 29, 2004.</p>
<p>"Canada welcomes Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer on his first visit to Canada,"
said Minister Graham. "I look forward to further developing our strong ties with NATO
and discussing our collective interests in advance of the Istanbul Summit."</p>
<p>"Canada continues to fully support NATO and is heavily engaged in the Alliance's
peace support operations," said Minister Pratt. "Almost 2,000 of our troops serve on a
NATO-led mission in Afghanistan and 1,200 Canadian Forces members are in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the NATO Stabilization Force."</p>
<p>Mr. de Hoop Scheffer's visit to Canada marks his first to a NATO member state since
being appointed Secretary General. During his stay in Ottawa, he will meet with
Ministers Graham and Pratt. </p>
<p>Mr. de Hoop Scheffer took office on January 5, 2004. He is NATO's 11th Secretary
General.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Isabelle Savard</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</p>
<p>(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p>Shane Diaczuk</p>
<p>Director of Communications</p>
<p>Office of the Minister of National Defence </p>
<p>(613) 996-3100</p>
<p>This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade's Internet site: <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123093832/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
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