UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Visit Canada

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, will visit Canada, December 1 to 3.

"I look forward to meeting Mr. Annan and discussing the many interests that Canada and the United Nations have in common," said the Prime Minister. "The United Nations is the world's most important multilateral forum, and Canada fully supports the package of reforms proposed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations for renewing, refocusing and restructuring the United Nations to respond effectively to new and more complex issues".

While in Ottawa, Mr. Kofi Annan will meet with Governor General Roméo LeBlanc, Prime Minister Chrétien, Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, and Diane Marleau, the Minister for International Cooperation and the Minister Responsible for La Francophonie. They are expected to discuss all aspects of UN renewal on the eve of the new millennium.

"I am pleased that the Secretary-General's visit coincides with the Landmines Treaty-Signing Conference," said Prime Minister Chrétien. "Mr. Annan has been one of the staunchest supporters of the Ottawa Process. The Ottawa Process is an example of Canada's strong commitment to build a safer and better world for the 21st century."

On December 3, the Secretary-General will visit Toronto, where he will speak at a fundraising gala hosted by the United Nations Association of Canada.

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