Premier to discuss national and international relations

Premier Danny Williams will travel first to Ottawa and then to Montreal for a series of discussions on national and international relations.

This evening, March 18, the Premier will join Prime Minister Paul Martin at a dinner in honour of Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. The leaders will discuss the relationship between the two countries, as well as between the province and Ireland.

"The relationship between our peoples goes back to the earliest days of European settlement," said Premier Williams. "As a province and as a country, we share history, culture and traditions with Ireland that provide a solid base on which to build new and forward-looking relationships. I am very much looking forward to our discussions with Prime Minister Ahern."

Trade, investment and bi-lateral cooperation in key sectors will be prominent on the leaders� agenda. High-technology, cultural industries and science and technology are areas of particular interest.

"Our province and our country already have strong trade and investment relations with Ireland. Nationally, we traded over $2 billion in goods with Ireland in 2003, " the Premier observed. "What I hope to do is to explore ways in which we can enhance this relationship, perhaps beginning with a Newfoundland and Labrador trade mission to Ireland and a renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador."

On Friday, March 19, Premier Williams will be in Montreal to participate in a meeting of federal, provincial and territorial leaders to discuss issues of Canada-US relations and international representation. An early-morning meeting among provincial and territorial minsters will be followed by a meeting of those ministers with Canadian Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs Pierre Pettigrew and Scott Brison, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister for Canada-US relations.

"Our federal colleagues are coming to the table ready to listen, and the provinces and territories have a lot to say," said the Premier. "Together, we can make progress on defining the provincial-territorial role in international discussion forums. We are all interested in adding our voices to a strong, clear Canadian message on the international stage, particular in the U.S. I will also take the opportunity to discuss foreign over-fishing and other issues relating to international relations."

At their February 2004 Council of the Federation meeting, federal, provincial and territorial ministers agreed to promote stronger relations with the United States through a coordinated Canadian intergovernmental strategy, and to work on mechanisms for involvement of provincial and territorial governments in international negotiations and agreements that affect their responsibilities.

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-3960 or (709) 690-5500.

2004 03 18                                       1:30 p.m.