Emerson to Attend G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Japan

(DFAIT)

The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, [Tuesday] announced that he will attend the G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kyoto, Japan, on June 26 and 27, 2008.

“The Foreign Ministers Meeting will provide an important forum in which to develop concrete and credible solutions to global challenges, and to strengthen global collaboration in developing those solutions,” said Minister Emerson.

During the Meeting, foreign ministers from the G8 countries of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom and the host country of Japan will address international security issues such as nuclear non-proliferation, counterterrorism and peacebuilding, as well as a range of specific regional foreign policy issues, including Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burma.

Minister Emerson will also take the opportunity to champion Canada’s values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.While in Japan, Minister Emerson will meet with Masahiko Komura, the country’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.

“I look forward to meeting with my Japanese counterpart, in particular because this year – the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries – marks an important milestone in our relationship.”

Ministers Emerson and Komura will discuss Canada’s participation in the G8 Summit, which will be held in Toyako, Japan, from July 7 to 9, 2008, and which Prime Minister Stephen Harper will attend.