Prime Minister To Attend Denver Summit, UN Special 
Session on Environment 

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced he will travel to Denver, Colorado, to take part in the Summit of the Eight on June 20-22, and later attend the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on sustainable development in New York, June 23-27.

The Summit of the Eight, hosted this year by U.S. President Bill Clinton, includes the leaders of Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Italy, and Japan. Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission, and Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok, in his capacity as President of the European Union, will also take part as representatives of the European Union.

The focus of the Summit will be on global integration and domestic economic challenges. The leaders are expected to discuss such issues as international financial stability, the challenges of aging populations, sustainable development, the economic and political integration of Africa, and peacebuilding and terrorism. Also at Denver, Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Finance Minister Paul Martin will take part in separate meetings of foreign ministers and finance ministers from the Summit countries.

While in Denver, the Prime Minister will also take part in a Canada-European Union Summit on June 20 and bilateral meetings with other leaders attending the Summit of the Eight. The discussions at the Canada-EU Summit will centre on progress in transatlantic relations since the signing of the Canada-EU Action Plan in December 1996.

Following the Summit of the Eight, the Prime Minister will travel to New York to address the UNGASS plenary. He will also attend the opening of the UNGASS Exhibition "Sustainable Development in Action", a showcase of practical environmental solutions actively sponsored by Canada and five other co-sponsors. Environment Minister Christine Stewart will attend UNGASS with the Prime Minister.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

• Background Information