PRIME MINISTER TO ATTEND NATO SUMMIT IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

November 15, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that he will attend the NATO Summit in Prague, Czech Republic on November 21 and 22, 2002.

"NATO continues to be an invaluable forum where Canada can work with its allies to ensure the safety and security of Canadians," said the Prime Minister. "This Summit will be a key opportunity to better position the Alliance to respond to future security challenges. I look forward to welcoming new members into NATO, which will create an even greater Alliance against global threats." The Prague Summit will bring together the leaders of 19 NATO member states and 27 member states of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council to discuss how NATO will adapt to the new security environment. Leaders will focus on new members, new relationships, and new capabilities.

The Prime Minister will take part in Summit level meeting of the North Atlantic Council, NATO's primary governing body, as well as the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council sessions. Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and Minister of National Defence John McCallum will also participate in the Summit.

Following NATO, the Prime Minister will travel to Paris, France, where he will attend a conference on economic reform in Lebanon, hosted by President Jacques Chirac.

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