Christopher and Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy spoke at a press briefing March 28 after signing the agreement to extend NORAD. Axworthy noted that it "will provide us with the opportunity to jointly work on new technologies for aerospace warning, to ensure that some of the new concerns that we have about rogue states and their nuclear capacity can be clearly identified, (and) to deal with questions of drug interdiction."
In response to reporters' questions, Christopher said the United States is developing procedures for implementing the Helms-Burton law, particularly procedures for visa entry into the United States. The law is designed to isolate the repressive regime of Fidel Castro in Cuba.
"We'll be trying to get out some information in the next day or two putting in context and making somewhat less sweeping the visa issues with respect to the statute," Christopher said. "The statute has consequences but perhaps may not as great as some of the most extreme projects of them; and we'll try to set the record straight on that in the next couple of days."
Axworthy said Canada has "initiated already a process that is available to us under the NAFTA procedures" to deal with aspects of the law that Canada objects to.
Following is an official transcript of the press briefing:
(Begin transcript)
SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER: Good morning. In just a minute I'll tell you what we've
done here, but first let me say that I'm delighted to welcome here Lloyd Axworthy, the
new Canadian foreign minister, on his first visit to Washington.
The United States and Canada have built a very strong partnership based upon our many interests and values that we share together. I know the foreign minister and I will have a comparably useful and effective partnership. We've begun to get acquainted and there is no doubt that we're going to have a very fine relationship.
As I think is well-known, our commitment to a common defense has long been the heart of our cooperation. The mechanism has been the North American Aerospace Defense Command -- we've called that NORAD for such a long time that we've forgotten what the real words are. First established in 1958, NORAD remains an integral part of our defenses, as well as a symbol of our trust and confidence on which our whole relationship is based.
We have just now signed a renewal of the NORAD agreement, so we're back in business. I'm very glad to have two senior military officials here today, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of NORAD, Lieutenant General Cuppens -- General, we're very pleased to have you here with us today -- and the Commander of Canada's First Air Force, Major General Philip Killey, also joins us.
I think we ought to perhaps give the generals a hand and give NORAD a hand. (Applause)
The strong relationship that we have has been the foundation for prosperity and peace across our entire hemisphere. From our own trade agreements to NAFTA to the Summit of Americas, U.S.-Canadian cooperation has led the way in opening markets and building a hemispheric economy in which all can prosper.
There are so many areas where we work together that it would probably be unfair to single out any one, but our cooperation right now in Haiti has been so critical to the restoration of democracy there. Canada's contribution of peacekeepers and resources has been just extraordinary. Now Canada's assuming leadership of the U.N.'s military mission in Haiti is an absolutely indispensable role to safeguard the gains of the past 18 months and to help to ensure that the people of Haiti will have an opportunity for decent and productive lives.
This is only one example of Canada's commitment to international peacekeeping and its contributions to global security and global peace. Canada really has been an example for the world in that regard. Other illustrations are the Middle East and the Balkans, where Canada has also made and is making a major contribution. We're also going to be working together in making progress toward a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
At our meeting today, we will be reviewing our cooperation both here in the hemisphere and abroad. We are going to be working together in the next few months at important meetings of NATO, the G-7 and the United Nations.
So I am very glad to have this opportunity to get better acquainted with Lloyd Axworthy and to begin the process of working with him to maintain the very strong partnership that exists between our two countries.
Welcome, Lloyd, and thank you.
CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AXWORTHY: Thank you.
Well, I'd like to thank the Secretary for his courtesy in welcoming me and our delegation here over the past two days. We've already had some good conversations and look forward to a longer session this afternoon, as the Secretary said, to examine the incredible range of opportunities and initiatives and relationships that Canada and the United States have established over the years, both historically and in our contemporary sense.
It is important to recognize, I think, as each day goes by, about a billion dollars of trade passes across our borders. We are each other's largest trading partner. We have thousands of transactions in the commercial field and millions of connections in the personal, human field, and it's a good opportunity for me in my first visit to be here and to enjoy the opportunity of examining those issues.
(In French, through interpreter) In recent years, the United States has been a very good friend of Canada and it has very generously taken into consideration our interests. We're very happy to be here today to sign this very important treaty for Canada and the United States. (end of interpretation)
One comment I'd like to make, because I think the signing of the NORAD accord has significance beyond just its importance as a security and surveillance early warning system; it's a good model about how we can and should work out joint relationships. It is based upon collaboration, a sharing of information, a process, a set of rules and it has stood the test of time and, perhaps, particularly, it's been able to be renovated and renewed and redesigned to meet new conditions.
The NORAD agreement itself will provide us with the opportunity to jointly work on new technologies for aerospace warning, to ensure that some of the new concerns that we have about rogue states and their nuclear capacity can be clearly identified, to deal with questions of drug interdiction. So it does demonstrate the ability to constantly upgrade and improve those institutions that we've established over the years to serve our joint interests.
As the Secretary said, we'll be looking forward to the opportunity to discuss a number of issues where we are collaborating. The importance of Haiti to us, as a country in our hemisphere that is working with great courage to reestablish a democratic system with the help its partners, is one that we jointly support. I've been encouraged in our discussions so far on how we can continue to work in a cooperative fashion.
We also are looking very closely at collaborating on things like the Arctic Council, where we see an opportunity to share again joint -- a new institution to help us deal with the environment in our northern hemisphere. Of course, there are other issues as well on the trade front and the cultural front that we want to discuss. The Secretary and I have already had some discussions about issues concerning Cuba, about soft-wood lumber, about issues related that we want to be able to have a good, frank, open discussion and there is certainly a willingness to do that.
Finally, just to say that I welcome the opportunity to learn from the Secretary about -- as a new minister -- with his vast experience in Middle East matters. He has taken a very strong role in the whole work on terrorism; there is a major meeting taking place in Washington today of our officials to talk about how we can respond to the peace process in the Middle East and develop a counter-terrorism approach. The interests that we have jointly in the evolution of NATO and Eastern Europe and our concerns about working closely together on Nigeria and dealing with the human rights situation in that country.
So we have a full agenda. We'll be looking forward to those opportunities and I thank the Secretary and his staff for the welcome they've given us.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, could we ask you if you think Canada and the U.S. positions on the Helms-Burton bill are irreconcilable? Is there anything you could offer in the way of concessions on the use of the waiver that might satisfy Canadian concerns?
CHRISTOPHER: First let me say that we greatly appreciate the sturdy and stern stand that Canada joined us in taking after the shooting down of our two innocent aircraft by Cuba. I think their joining us in condemnation of that was much appreciated. We also, I think, very much valued the cooperation that we've had in dealing with that whole incident.
Now the United States felt that some very strong action needed to be taken. As a result, after discussions with leaders on Capitol Hill, we joined in a strengthening of the Helms-Burton bill. A number of questions have been raised about that by Canada and others. We are in a process of examining those questions, developing procedures with respect to that statute, particularly developing procedures with respect to visa entry into the United States.
There is much to be done here. As the questioner asked, there is a waiver possibility, but that does not really begin to face us until later this summer. The best thing I can say at the moment is I believe we will work our way through this particular problem as we have on many others, trying to take into account, insofar as possible under the legislation, the interests and concerns of Canada.
One thing I would say is that we'll be trying to get out some information in the next day or two putting in context and making somewhat, I think, less sweeping the visa issues with respect to the statute. The statute has consequences, but the consequences may not be quite as great as some of the most extreme projections of them, and we'll try to set the record straight on that in the next couple of days.
Q: Mr. Minister, you mentioned briefly your concerns -- Canada's concerns -- about Helms-Burton. Could you elaborate on those concerns and what actions Canada plans to take with regard to Helms-Burton?
AXWORTHY: The primary concern is the application of a U.S. law to Canadian businesses and interests, and we've made the case with the Secretary and other members of the Administration that we feel that law should not apply to Canadian citizens or businesses. We have initiated a consultation reference under the NAFTA program following the due process that the Secretary talked about, and there is a 30-day period that we would be waiting to see how we can work that response out. That's the beginning of the way in which we can deal with it.
We've also, as the Secretary just said, made representations on the application of the bill; there is the waiver condition, there is the use of the visa, and I'm pleased to hear that the Secretary is talking about -- I think the word was "limited" application of the visa. I think that will be important to ensure that the impacts would be of a limited nature.
So we feel strongly; we don't like the bill and we've said so. We are working with other countries and that's one of those areas that we have an opportunity to discuss over the afternoon.
Q: Mr. Minister, was retaliation discussed with the Secretary, and is there possible and potential Canadian retaliation should the effects of this bill take part?
AXWORTHY: At this stage, what we have said -- we've initiated already a process that is available to us under the NAFTA procedures to deal with the Title Four part of the bill. To repeat the words of the Secretary, the waiver conditions are matters that come later on in the summer, and I think what we're doing right now is using the opportunity to make the case to members of the Administration and to the Congress about our concerns about that side of it and the hope that we would see the waiver exercised at the appropriate time.
Q: Are retaliations possible, sir?
AXWORTHY: We are not at this time proposing retaliation because at this point what we want to do is to have the waiver exercised, and there is no point in getting into an escalation of the matter if we can resolve it beforehand. But, certainly -- and I think I've made it clear -- we will take the initiatives that we have to as a country to ensure our own citizens and businesses are protected.
SPOKESMAN BURNS: Thank you very much.
(End transcript)