SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO CANADA - 1-3 DECEMBER

Press Release
SG/T/2113

SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT TO CANADA - 1-3 DECEMBER

The Secretary-General arrived in Ottawa, Canada, in the evening of Monday, 1 December, to begin a state visit there. He was greeted by the Governor General of Canada and his wife, Roméo LeBlanc and Diana Fowler LeBlanc. In his welcoming remarks, the Governor General noted how well Canada knew the Secretary-General, not only in his current role, but also from the days when Canadian peacekeepers were under his leadership. The Secretary- General responded by expressing his gratitude for the invitation to visit Canada and for the important role that Canada plays in the international community.

On Tuesday, 2 December, the Secretary-General had breakfast with Louise Fréchette, current Deputy Minister of National Defence and former Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. He then met with the Executive Secretary of the secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Calestous Juma. Their meeting centred on the increased awareness on the part of States Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. With more parties joining the Convention, Mr. Juma expressed satisfaction at the way in which the work of the secretariat of the convention was proceeding. The Secretary-General indicated to Mr. Juma that, in his view, all United Nations organizations/secretariats stemming from legal conventions/treaties should cooperate in order to increase their efficiency. "That", said the Secretary-General, "is a necessary aspect of the work of the United Nations."

The Secretary-General then met with staff of United Nations organizations working in Canada. His message to them was to cooperate, to avoid competition and to work with a sense of unity. He told the staff about the latest moves regarding reform and expressed his hope to see this exercise completed before the end of the year.

Later in the morning the Secretary-General visited the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa, where he met with past and current Canadian peacekeepers and their families. A state luncheon, hosted by the Governor General, Roméo LeBlanc, at Rideau Hall, the official residence of Governors General, followed.

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In the afternoon, at Parliament Hill, the Secretary-General met with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Their discussions touched on United Nations reform; non-payment of dues by the United States and the frustration by Member States as a result of this; Canada's role at the United Nations; landmines; Canada's invitation to the United Nations for moving some of its operations to Montreal; the recently concluded Asian-Pacific Forum in Vancouver; the financial problems that countries in Asia are currently experiencing; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Haiti; and various countries in Africa. Following their meeting, they met with the press and answered questions primarily on the landmine issue.

The Secretary-General then met with Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy. They discussed the issue of landmines in the context of Canada's successful initiatives in this area and the international community's response. The Secretary-General then briefed the Minister on the situations in Central Africa, in the Middle East, and on the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Mr. Annan then met with Diane Marleau, Minister for International Cooperation and Minister for Francophonie. They talked about United Nations reform, United States arrears, and the issue of corruption and its consequences. Africa, human rights and Haiti were also discussed.

The Secretary-General then attended a dinner at the National Gallery of Canada, hosted in his honour by the Prime Minister of Canada and Mrs. Chrétien.

On the morning of Wednesday, 3 December, the Secretary-General addressed the opening ceremony of the Landmines Conference (see Press Release SG/SM/6410/Rev.1 of 2 December). He then visited exhibits of non-governmental organizations in connection with the conference; met with Preston Manning, leader of the Opposition (Reform) Party; participated in a tree-planting ceremony in the company of the Governor General at Rideau Hall, and attended a luncheon hosted by Foreign Minister Axworthy. Before departing to Toronto, the Secretary-General met with the African diplomatic corps, and held a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Ireland, David Andrews. During the meeting, the Foreign Minister delivered to the Secretary-General Ireland's ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.

Mr. Annan arrived in Toronto in the late afternoon of 3 December, where he addressed the United Nations Association of Canada at a dinner in the Royal Ontario Museum hosted by the Association (see Press Release SG/SM/6412 of 3 December). He returned to New York later that evening.

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