MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1997
(Meeting No. 76)

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The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 10:18 o'clock a.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Eleni Bakopanos, Stéphane Bergeron, Hon. Michel Dupuy, John English, Bill Graham, Philippe Paré, Charlie Penson and Benoît Sauvageau.

Acting Member present: Roy Cullen for Beryl Gaffney.

Associate Member present: Maud Debien.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz and James Lee, Researchers.

Appearing: Honourable Art Eggleton, Minister for International Trade.

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee proceeded to examine Canada's International Business Development Strategy and the Committee commenced consideration of its Order of Reference from the House of Commons dated Thursday, February 20, 1997, relating to the Main Estimates for Foreign Affairs and International Trade for the fiscal year ending Tuesday, March 31, 1998.

Honourable Art Eggleton made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:08 o'clock a.m., the sitting proceeded in camera.

The Committee proceeded to consider its future business.

It was agreed,--That the Committee retain the services of Verena Ossent to edit the French version of the report of the Committee on circumpolar cooperation for an amount not to exceed $3,000.00.

It was agreed,--That the Committee print 2,000 copies in English and 1,000 copies in French of its report on circumpolar cooperation.

It was agreed,--That the report of the Committee on circumpolar cooperation be printed with a special cover.

It was agreed,--That the Committee plan to present its report on circumpolar cooperation to the House of Commons on Tuesday, April 22, 1997.

It was agreed,--That the Committee approve a budget of the Committee for the period of April 1 to June 20, 1997 in the amount of $41,235.00.

It was agreed,--That the motion be amended by reducing the total amount of the budget to $40,735.00.

It was agreed,--That the motion be adopted as amended.

It was agreed,--That the Committee meet with the following individuals during the month of May: James Jonah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand; and Honourable Ahmed Qurle, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

It was agreed,--That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write a letter to the Ambassador to Canada from El Salvador regarding the situation of Antonia Maria Campos Zavala, who is imprisoned in El Salvador.

At 11:35 o'clock a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1997
(Meeting No. 77)

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The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met at 3:15 o'clock p.m. this day, in Room 256-S, Centre Block, the Chair, Bill Graham, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Sarkis Assadourian, Eleni Bakopanos, Hon. Michel Dupuy, John English, Bill Graham and Philippe Paré.

Acting Members present: Marc Harb for Francis LeBlanc; Keith Martin for Bob Mills.

Associate Members present: Maud Debien and Andrew Telegdi.

Members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs present: Hon. John Stewart, Hon. Pat Carney, Hon Jerahmiel G. Grafstein, Hon. Raynell Andreychuk; Hon. Pierre De Bané.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Anthony Chapman and James Lee, Researchers; From the Committees Directorate of the Senate: Serge Pelletier, Committee Clerk.

Witnesses: From the Republic of Lebanon: His Excellency Rafik Al-Hariri, Prime Minister; His Excellency Fouad Sanioura, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; His Excellency Jean Obeid, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport; His Excellency Yassine Jaber, Minister of Economy and Commerce; His Excellency Assem Salman Jaber, Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic to Canada; His Excellency Hisham Shaar, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers.

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee proceeded to meet with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lebanon and an accompanying Parliamentary delegation.

His Excellency Rafik Al-Hariri made a statement and answered questions.

At 4:20 o'clock p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1997
(Meeting No. 78)

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The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade met in a joint session with the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs at 10:20 o'clock a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, Hon. Michel Dupuy, presiding.

Member of the Committee present: Hon. Michel Dupuy.

Acting Members present: Rex Crawford for Sarkis Assadourian; George Proud for Francis G. LeBlanc; Roy Cullen for Bill Graham.

Associate Member present: Keith Martin.

Members of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs present: Jean Leroux and John Richardson.

In attendance: From the Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: Gerald Schmitz, Michel Rossignol and James Lee, Researchers.

Delegation: From the North Atlantic Treaty Organization: His Excellency Javier Solana, Secretary General; Jorge Domecq, Director of the Private Office; Hoyt Yee, Deputy Director of the Private Office; Jamie Shea, Deputy Director of the Office of Information and Press; Victor Martin, Executive Assistant to the Secretary General.

In accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(2), the Committee resumed its examination of NATO Enlargement (See Minutes of Proceedings and Evidence, dated Thursday, October 10, 1996, Issue No. 6, Meeting No. 45).

His Excellency Javier Solana made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:05 o'clock a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Janice Hilchie

Clerk of the Committee