Visit of the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Senator, Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, Poland, Slovakia and Austria

From June 25 to July 3, 2007, the Speaker of the Senate led a parliamentary delegation composed of the Honourable Senators David Tkachuk, George Furey, and Yoine Goldstein. The delegation visited Poland from June 25 to 27, the Slovak Republic from June 27 to July 1, and Austria from July 1 to 4.

In Poland, the delegation met with:

His Excellency Jaroslaw Kaczynski, Prime Minister;

His Excellency Bogdan Borusewicz, Speaker of the Senate;

His Excellency Ludwik Dorn, Speaker of the Sejm;

Mr. Michal Sewerynski, Minister of Science and Higher Education;

Ms. Anna Fotyga, Minister of Foreign Affairs;

Mr. Andrzej Cwierz, Chair of the Poland-Canada Parliamentary Group; and

Mr. Stefan Niesiolowski, Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.

In the Slovak Republic, the delegation met with:

His Excellency Ivan Gasparovic, President of the Republic;

His Excellency Pavol Paska, Speaker of the National Council;

Mr. Jan Kubis, Minister of Foreign Affairs;

Mr. Boriz Zala, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee;

Mr. Rafael Rajaj, Chair of the Slovakia-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group;

Mr. Maros Kondrot, Chair of the Committee on Economic Policy of the National Council;

His Eminence Jan Chryzostom Korec, S.J., Cardinal, Bishop Emeritus Diocese of Nitra; and

His Excellency Monsignor Bert van Megen, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Permanent Delegate to other International Organizations in Geneva.

In Austria, the delegation met with:

His Excellency Wolfgang Erlitz, President of the Austrian Federal Council;

Dr. Lassina Zerbo, Director of the International Data Centre Division, Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization; and

Mr. Werner Burkart, Deputy Director General, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency.

The objectives of the visit were to enhance relations between Canada and Poland, the Slovak Republic and Austria, as well as to strengthen our interparliamentary communications with these three countries. The delegation discussed subjects of mutual interest, particularly in the fields of human rights and international exchanges between post-secondary institutions, and learned more about the issues and challenges of Poland, the Slovak Republic and Austria. Canada is seeking to strengthen its political and trade relations with Poland, the Slovak Republic and Austria.

View report.