Commonwealth Secretary-General to visit Canada for talks with Prime Minister Harper

The Secretary-General is also scheduled to meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier.

He will brief the leaders on the preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to take place in Uganda from 23 to 25 November 2007.

Mr McKinnon will update them on Commonwealth initiatives, including the work of the Commission on Respect and Understanding, which is exploring ways to promote mutual understanding and respect among all faiths and communities; and the work of the Committee on Commonwealth Membership, which is focusing on the criteria for membership of the organisation and other related issues.

Mr McKinnon will also hold talks with Robert Greenhill, President of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Canada has been a consistent supporter of the development work of the Commonwealth and is the second largest contributor to its premier development fund the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC).

The Secretary-General will also attend a lunch hosted by the Canadian government in his honour, before meeting with High Commissioners resident in Ottawa.

He will address the Royal Commonwealth Society of Canada at a private dinner on 30 September 2007.

Note to Editors:

For media enquiries please contact Eduardo del Buey, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, on mobile +44-7740-450-901 or e-mail: e.delbuey@commonwealth.int.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: Canada
• Secretary-General