PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER TO ATTEND THE G-7 SUMMIT IN GERMANY AND TRAVEL TO UKRAINE, POLAND, VATICAN CITY AND ROME

June 1, 2015                         Ottawa, Ontario                             Prime Minister’s Office

Introduction 

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will travel to Germany to participate in the G-7 Schloss Elmau Summit on June 7 and 8, 2015. Prior to the Summit, he will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 6. Following the G-7 Summit, he will visit Warsaw, Poland, from June 8 to 10. He will end his travels in Vatican City and Rome on June 10 and 11.

The G-7 Summit brings together the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.

Discussions at this year’s G-7 Summit will focus on the global economy, development and key foreign policy and security challenges, including Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine, actions by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, and Boko Haram in Africa.

During his visit to Ukraine – his third to the country since January 2014 – Prime Minister Harper will meet with President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk ahead of the G-7 Summit to discuss the international community’s response to Russian aggression and Canada’s continued support for Ukraine’s ambitious economic and democratic reforms.

In Poland, the Prime Minister will meet with Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, President Bronisław Komorowski and President-elect Andrzej Duda. Leaders will discuss regional security and ways to strengthen the already deep ties between the two countries, including by way of the Canada-EU Trade Agreement.

In Vatican City, Prime Minister Harper will have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis and will meet with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

In Rome, Prime Minister Harper will meet with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The leaders are expected to discuss global security issues as well as ways to strengthen bilateral and commercial relations between Canada and Italy, including through the Canada-EU Trade Agreement.

Quick Facts 

• The G-7 is a forum for the leaders of the world’s most industrialized nations, who aim to find common ground in addressing some of the most challenging global issues. While the leaders of these countries are in regular contact, they meet in summit format once a year.
• Canada and Germany enjoy close relations, underpinned by active international cooperation, healthy trade and investment relations, and long-standing people-to-people ties.
• Since the onset of the crisis in Ukraine, Canada has imposed sanctions against more than 270 Russian and Ukrainian individuals and entities, contributed non-lethal military assistance, significantly enhanced its bilateral assistance to Ukraine, contributed hundreds of observers to support free, fair and democratic elections and provided $400 million in low-interest bilateral loans to Ukraine. Canada is also developing and delivering military training and capacity-building programs for Ukrainian forces personnel. This is the Prime Minister’s third visit to Ukraine.
• Canada and Poland enjoy excellent political, social and commercial relations with expanding military cooperation, as well as growing academic and cultural ties, which are bolstered by Canada’s nearly one million-member strong Polish community. This is the Prime Minister’s third visit to Poland.
• Canada was the first country to ratify Polish accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1999, and the two countries continue to work together bilaterally and within multilateral fora including the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
• Canada and the Holy See share a commitment to the promotion of the dignity of the human person and to freedom of conscience and religion. Prime Minister Harper welcomed His Holiness Pope Francis’ selection as the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, the 265th successor of St. Peter, in March 2013. This is the Prime Minister’s second visit to Vatican City. Prime Minister Harper met with Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.
• Canada’s relations with Italy are rooted in shared values and longstanding close cooperation. As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the EU, the fourth-largest EU economy and a G-7/G-20 member, Italy is a key partner for Canada in addressing global issues.

Quotes 

“I look forward to meeting with my G-7 counterparts next week to discuss key global economic and security issues, including Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine and threats posed by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The G-7 achieves important results on issues that matter globally and Canada is proud to be part of this conversation.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper

“Canada continues to stand with the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression. We will continue to support the country as it takes the necessary steps towards freedom, security and prosperity. I look forward to receiving a personal update on the situation in Ukraine from President Poroshenko and Prime Minister Yatsenyuk prior to attending the G-7 Summit.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper

“Canada and Poland have strong bilateral relations underpinned by a vibrant Polish-Canadian community. I look forward to meeting with Polish leaders to explore further commercial opportunities that will be created by the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper

“I look forward to meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis, the religious leader for so many in Canada and around the world. I would like to explore how Canada and the Holy See can collaborate further on international development issues.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper