Ottawa / Brussels, 08/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the president-in-office of the EU Council, Anna Lindh, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten met Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Foreign Minister John Manley. During this "routine" bi-annual meeting, according to one European observer, a large range of internal policy and defence issues were discussed.
The EU and Canada agreed to place emphasis on questions of nuclear non-proliferation and on the non-dissemination of small arms during their next Summit. Both parties share a certain concern about the risks that the US missile shield project could have on the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (see other article).
The two parties raised the project for cooperation for mine clearance in the Ukraine. The project nevertheless remains blocked on the European side, the Council hesitating over the legal basis that could support this initiative, indicates a European source.
The EU and Canada have agreed to coordinate their position on the draft resolution on human rights in China, which the United States intends to present during the next session of the UN Human Rights Commission, in Geneva.
Finally, Commissioner Patten outlined the main policies of the Communication on conflict prevention, which he intends to present in April.