August 26, 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today announced that he will visit Croatia, Serbia and Albania. While in the Balkans, Baird will meet with a number of key government officials and highlight the growing bilateral relationship with all three countries.
In Croatia, Baird will meet with Vesna Pusić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, and Ante Kotromanović, Minister of Defence. “Canada and Croatia are like-minded partners and NATO allies who share a number of foreign policy priorities related to security, prosperity and democracy in the world,” said Baird.
In Serbia, Baird will meet with President Tomislav Nikolić, along with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić. “Canada is encouraged by the democratic and economic transformation of Serbia and its commitment to achieving greater integration and cooperation with the European Union and its institutions,” said Baird.
Finishing the trip in Albania, Baird will meet with President Bujar Nishani and Prime Minister Edi Rama, as well as Ditmir Bushati, Minister of Foreign Affairs. “Canada strongly supports Albania’s path to European integration,” said Baird. “As a like-minded NATO ally, we welcome Albania’s contributions to the fight against terrorism, in particular its efforts to combat the threat posed by ISIL in Iraq.”
This visit to the Balkans comes after Baird spoke about Ukraine and other global security issues at a high-level forum in Salzburg, Austria, organized by the International Peace Institute and the Salzburg Global Seminar. He also discussed the need for a robust response to the Ukraine crisis during bilateral visits earlier in the week with his counterparts in Norway and Denmark.
“Russia’s acts of aggression and intimidation toward Ukraine call for collective action,” said Baird. “When there are clear and present threats to international security, Canada, together with its like-minded allies, must clearly speak out.”
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