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Prime Minister to Attend NATO Summit in Madrid
July 4, 1997
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that he will attend the NATO
Summit to be held in Madrid, July 8-9. The Prime Minister will be accompanied
by Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and National Defence Minister
Art Eggleton.
On July 8, the leaders of the 16 NATO member countries will meet to discuss
NATO enlargement, partnerships with non-NATO countries, and internal reform
of the Alliance.
"This Summit represents an important moment in NATO's history, and in our
efforts to enhance transatlantic security," said Prime Minister Chrétien.
"We intend to support the membership aspirations of those who meet the
appropriate democratic, free market and other criteria."
The decision on new membership will be made by consensus among all current
NATO members. Canada has consistently supported a broad enlargement of
NATO as a way of contributing to transatlantic security. In Madrid, Canada
will work towards a consensus to invite Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic,
Slovenia and Romania to join the Alliance.
On July 9, the NATO leaders will meet with representatives from the other
member countries of the new Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) to
discuss deepening the level of cooperation between NATO and the wider EAPC
membership. The EAPC includes NATO members and countries of Eastern and
Central Europe, as well as the former Soviet Union. The EAPC replaced
the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) in May 1997.
During the Madrid meetings, a new NATO-Ukraine Charter will be signed.
This follows the signing of the NATO-Russia Relations Agreement on May
27 at the NATO-Russia Summit.
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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
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