Lloyd Axworthy

[Foreign Affairs, November 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member should know, the resolution is still under negotiation. This morning a new variation was received. There are a number of amendments being presented on this particular issue. It is very hard to answer a hypothetical question when we do not know what the final form of the resolution will be. As soon as it is known, I will make sure the hon. member gets a copy.

[Foreign Affairs, October 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question. I should also say that I appreciate having his company on the trip. I know it will be a great asset. It is very important that members of parliament be involved in these matters.

I will answer the question simply. I want to point that this mission was authorized by the Commonwealth to take the message that under the Harare declaration we do not accept military overthrows of democratically elected governments. We would like to see the regime there establish a clear set of timetables to develop how it will restore democracy and equally so protect the rights of people who have been arrested during that period of time.

[Ireland, October 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the most important initiative was the visit that the Prime Minister took to Northern Ireland this last summer, where he lent his presence and the broad support of Canada behind the process. At the same time, he announced a $1 million contribution to the International Fund for Ireland which is designed to help reconciliation in that country.

In addition, we have General de Chastelain working on the decommissioning environment. We have Professor Shearing working on the Patten Commission and Professor Hoyt working on the inquiry into bloody Sunday. These are three very distinguished Canadians who are actively involved in trying to bring together the two sides in that process.

In this case, Canada is very much showing that we deeply desire peace in Northern Ireland.

[Foreign Affairs, October 21st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, just this week we announced that we will reopen the embassy in Belgrade at the level of chargé d'affaires, along with the resources of the Canada fund, specifically to promote democracy and reform and to establish links with the pro-democratic movement in Serbia. It will also give us an opportunity to maintain effective links with the Canadian presence in Kosovo that is working on peacekeeping and humanitarian matters.

This is one clear indication of our commitment to try to promote democratic reform in that country.

[Pakistan, October 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, we have done the same as the other countries.

In addition, we have also arranged to have a meeting of the Commonwealth ministers on Monday which will apply the Harare principles to Pakistan concerning this military takeover. In fact, I think we are ahead of all these other countries.

[Foreign Affairs, June 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will be giving a very detailed briefing on the west coast in about an hour and a half from now. I can indicate to the hon. member that it does include a conservation fund and there will be proper guidelines established. It is a very comprehensive composite agreement that brings together all of the elements that have been on the table for the last four or five years.

[Foreign Affairs, June 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let me first correct one major word. The deal does not divide the communities, it brings the communities together. This has been a deal of mutual benefit on both sides of the border to conserve the fish stock, to provide direct investment to preserve the fish stock and to make sure that the communities themselves have a system or a formula in place that will provide stability over the next 10 years.

This is exactly what we have been working for, to give the fishermen on the west coast, from both sides of the borders, a sense that they have a future.

[Foreign Affairs, June 3rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that indeed there has been a successful negotiation toward an agreement on the Pacific salmon dispute.

The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will be making a detailed announcement on the west coast in a couple of hours. It demonstrates that when two sides work together for a mutual benefit, in this case the conservation of the fishing stock, they can come up with a good deal.

I would like to personally thank Don McRae, the chief negotiator working under the auspices of the Prime Minister, for the excellent work he has done, and a personal thanks to Secretary of State Albright for her personal commitment to make this agreement a success.

[Foreign Affairs, June 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to inform the House that the International Court of Justice, by an overwhelming majority, has totally dismissed the petition by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for an injunction against NATO action. The judges themselves have clearly seen through the attempts by the Milosevic regime to use this as a propaganda means.

I remind the House that Yugoslavia has never recognized its responsibilities under international law. Last week Mr. Milosevic and his cohorts were indicted as war criminals. It showed clearly where the responsibility lies.

[Immigration, May 28th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I had occasion last week to meet directly with Mrs. Ogata, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. At that time I specifically asked if she would like Canada to accept more refugees. She said no, that she would like to see Canada help in terms of the ongoing resettlement program in the region and in terms of reinforcing the ongoing work in the camps.

I can report to the hon. member that in direct discussions with the high commissioner she did not request that. In fact she said at this point in time she would rather have us look at alternate ways of helping in the camps in Macedonia and Albania.