December 18, 2000
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that Canada and the Russian Federation have committed to new agreements to further existing bilateral cooperation. The Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin today issued three Joint Statements and witnessed the signing of two agreements between Canada and the Russian Federation.

"Today’s agreements clearly show the expanding and ever-deepening relationship between our two countries," said the Prime Minister. "We are building upon a long tradition of bilateral cooperation in many sectors and are joining forces to increase our trade and investment opportunities."

The announcement was made following a meeting between the Prime Minister and the President, on the occasion of Mr. Putin’s first official visit to Canada.

Three joint statements commit Canada and the Russian Federation to increased direct dialogue on a range of international security issues, to re-affirm the longstanding commitment to the Arctic and to support Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization:

The Canada-Russia Joint Statement on Strategic Stability highlights broad areas of agreement between the two countries on many international security issues and on the human security agenda.

The Canada-Russia Joint Statement of Cooperation in the Arctic and the North, reaffirms the tradition of cooperation in that region and outlines further work together in the high priority areas of environmental protection, sustainable development and the development of commercial activities.

The Joint Statement on Russia’s Accession to the World Trade Organization affirms Canada’s continued support to Russia’s bid to joint the organization and outlines the continuation of Canadian technical assistance to assist Russia in achieving its goal.

In addition, an Air Services Agreement was signed by Canadian Minister of Transport, David Collenette and Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Viktor Khristenko. The agreement gives Canada additional route rights and carrier operating flexibility to Russia, while the Russians gain the right to serve Toronto and three other Canadian cities in addition to its existing service in Montreal.

An Agreement on the Principles and Basis for Cooperation between the Subjects of the Russian Federation and the Provinces and Territories of Canada was also signed between the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs John Manley, and the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Viktor Khristenko. The agreement seeks to encourage and guide the deepening of relationships between Canadian provinces and territories and Russian counterparts by providing a legal framework and promoting cooperation between their respective provinces.

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PMO Press Office : (613) 957-5555

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The Joint Statement on Strategic Stability reflects the importance of the direct dialogue we have with Russia in this sphere. It takes stock of where Canada and the Russian Federation stand on a range of international security issues as well as on the human security agenda. It highlights the broad areas of agreement between the two countries and identifies where and how their cooperation might be enhanced in the future.

In the text of the Joint Statement, Canada and the Russian Federation agree that the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty is a cornerstone of strategic stability, and affirm their shared hope for conclusion of a START III Treaty as soon as possible, including far-reaching reductions in strategic offensive weapons while preserving and strengthening the ABM Treaty. The two sides pledge maximum efforts to carry out the commitments for concrete action agreed in the Final Document of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference earlier this year, and agree to continue to cooperate in limiting the proliferation of missiles and missile technologies and in preventing an arms race in outer space.

The Joint Statement underlines the importance that Canada and the Russian Federation attach to their cooperation in major international fora, including the UN, the G8, NATO and the OSCE. It further specifies some of the areas where Canadian-Russian cooperation is an important part of broader international efforts to address key challenges to global and regional security, including preparation of the UN Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, combatting terrorism and organized crime, action to address the link between the illicit trade in rough diamonds and armed conflict, the establishment of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, the Middle East peace process and the efforts of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe to promote democracy, security and prosperity in that region.

The full statement is posted on the following website:

The Canada-Russia Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Arctic and the North reaffirms a longstanding commitment to work together in addressing the common challenges presented by the Arctic region. Specific cooperation themes to be given high priority include environmental protection, sustainable development as well as the development of commercial activity.

The Arctic identity that Canada shares with Russia provides a special basis for cooperation. This reality is emphasized in our new foreign policy document, Northern Dimension of Canadian Foreign Policy, which identifies as a priority the development of the northern aspect of our bilateral relations. It is within the spirit of the Northern Dimension that the Joint Statement on Cooperation in the Arctic and the North will be issued during the December visit of President Putin, reaffirming that working together on northern issues will remain a priority of Canada-Russia relations.

Canada has been an active partner in helping Russia meet its northern challenges. Last year CIDA committed 30% of its budget for Russia to northern and Aboriginal projects, making the northern dimension a distinctive feature of Canada's assistance program for Russia. In addition, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has maintained its interest in Russia and implements a 1997 MOU on Cooperation on Aboriginal and Northern Development.

The full statement is posted on the following website:

Joint Statement on Russia’s Accession to the World Trade Organization

A joint statement supporting Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), in accordance with WTO rules, was issued. The statement identifies priorities for the continuation of Canadian technical assistance for Russia's WTO accession.

Canada currently funds two projects - Macleod-Dixon's WTO Assistance and Carleton University's Capacity Building in Trade Policy and Law, for a total of $6.3 million - providing direct support to Russia’s WTO accession. During the Intergovernmental Economic Commission meeting held in Moscow at the end of June, the two sides noted their strong interest in continuing the technical co-operation provided by CIDA through projects undertaken to support Russia's efforts to accede to the WTO.

The full statement is posted on the following website:

The new Agreement on Air Services supersedes the 1966 Air Services Agreement between Canada and the former Soviet Union. This new agreement, already provisionally applied, constitutes a very positive development in relations between Canada and Russia. It contains the flexibility needed for the airlines of both countries to significantly expand air services between Canada and Russia.

Russia gained the right to serve Toronto and three other Canadian cities of their choice in addition to its existing service to Montreal. The Russian airline, Aeroflot, is already serving Toronto three times weekly. One of these flights also serves Montreal. Air Canada is not operating its own aircraft on the route but gains the right under the agreement to serve Moscow, St. Petersburg and three other Russian destinations to be chosen by the airline, through code-sharing with its partners in the Star Alliance. Air Canada plans to begin serving Moscow in code-share with Lufthansa on January 1, 2001.

Canada also gained Russian agreement to important new technical provisions on safety and aviation security, significantly improving requirements and procedures in these important areas. The two countries also exchanged rights to overfly each other’s territory, including on new transpolar routes which are currently being developed.

The full statement is posted on the following website:

This agreement replaces a similar 1989 agreement between Canada and the Soviet Union. That agreement sought to encourage and guide the already growing relations between certain of the constituent republics of the then Soviet Union and some Canadian provinces. The new agreement maintains the same general objective as its predecessor, whereby both the Canadian and Russian federal governments promote cooperation between their respective provinces and sub-national entities, while providing a legal framework for the process.

This agreement specifies broadly what areas this cooperation may encompass, "matters coming under their respective jurisdiction", but notes that these "understandings" do not have the status of international agreements or treaties.

The full statement is posted on the following website: