Lloyd Axworthy

[International Trade, April 21st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I will be meeting next Friday with the U.S. Secretary of State to discuss this. It is very important for Canada and for the United States.

[Trade, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member has matters confused. As the Minister of Foreign Affairs I am responsible for questions of allowing export permits on defence related matters. Therefore it falls within my responsibility.

We work very closely with the Minister for International Trade and the officials on the trade side. In fact they have been part of the negotiations. What I am saying at this point in time is that we regret the decision taken by the United States government. We think it works against the interest of both Canadian and U.S. industries. We will take up the matter directly with the secretary of state on Friday.

[Trade, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we have been in very active discussions with authorities in the United States government over the past several months.

Unfortunately on Friday it gazetted regulations that will change the special exemption for Canadian defence industries. In reaction I have written to the Secretary of State. I intend to take up the matter with Madeleine Albright when I meet with her on Friday.

[Kosovo, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I know this will come as helpful information to the hon. member. We have organized a major briefing this afternoon for all members in front of the committee to get the full information of what is going on in Kosovo.

[Kosovo, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as with most subjects, the Bloc Quebecois distorts what has been said. What we said back then was that it was important for parliament to be involved in making these decisions. Since 1993 when we came in, every single initiative the government has taken in which we have had troops committed overseas has been the subject of a debate in this parliament.

[Kosovo, April 20th, 1999]

The fourth party. I gave her a promotion.

We tabled in the House a very exhaustive paper on Canada's intentions and objectives in seeking nuclear disarmament. We fully agreed with the all-party committee that recommended we bring forward for review the ways in which NATO can use its opportunities for disarmament and arms control. That is the position we are taking. I think it is a position that will be accepted.

[Kosovo, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member of the third party probably knows, we tabled in the House—

[Kosovo, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has been promoting a diplomatic solution from the very beginning of the crisis in Kosovo.

Unfortunately, we finally came to the situation where the Milosevic regime refused any adherence to the fundamental rule of law or any kind of agreement whatsoever. Therefore, we had to opt for the enforcement of that rule of law and the protection of the innocent lives of people.

What we will be supporting at Washington is the continuation of allowing us to use every opportunity to support the initiatives of the secretary general, the NATO council and the leaders of Russia, who are all seeking to find a solution.

[Kosovo, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, what is instructive is that during the early part of the 1990s parliament was not even convened until two months after the ships were sent. We said it would be nice for parliament to at least be reconvened by the Conservatives. That was the position we took.

It seems to me that the hon. member is now indicating that his party is changing its position. It is now reneging on its commitment to support Canadian troops in trying to bring about a redress of the grievances in Kosovo. Why do you not speak up? Why do you not fess up to what your position is?

[Kosovo, April 20th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, there has been no decision by the USA or Great Britain on a change to the NATO position.

All options will be discussed, particularly the option of negotiation and the option for planning stability and reconstruction in the Balkan region. There will be extensive discussions among the leaders of the NATO countries.

The priority is to seek a solution to the crisis in the Balkans, not the Bloc Quebecois position on a vote.