Mr Sikorski held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada, Minister M. Bernier and the Minister of the National Defence, Mr McKay, on the second day of his visit to Canada.
In the course of the talks, the current situation in Afghanistan was discussed and the perspectives of the Polish-Canadian civil and military co-operation in Afghanistan were on the agenda. Mr. Sikorski pledged Polish readiness to support the Canadian troops by sparing two helicopters.
He also endorsed the efforts of the Canadian government to deploy, by the NATO, additional 1000 soldiers and necessary equipment in Kandahar. Apart from the issues connected with Afghanistan, the projects of future co-operation between the EU and Canada as well as the NATO summit in Budapest were also discussed.
In the area of bilateral relations, the visa issue as well as the matters related to the social security, youth exchange and extradition, were raised.
After the meetings Minister Sikorski delivered a speech at DFAIT, entitled: “The NATO in Afghanistan: Mission Impossible or a New Strategic Reality?”
( „NATO in Afghanistan: Mission Imposssible or a New Strategic Reality?” - Remarks by Minister Radosław Sikorski )
Next, Mr Sikorski held a meeting with the representatives of the Canadian Parliament, including the Speaker of the House of Commons Mr Peter Milliken. While at the Canadian parliament, Minister Sikorski held a conversation with the President of the Polish Community in Canada, Mr. W. Lizoń. In the afternoon, he held an interview for CBS TV.
