Glendon College's Annual Holmes Memorial Lecture
York U. Diplomat-in-Residence Anne Leahy to Look At Canada-Russia Relations, 100 Years After Beginning of Bilateral History

TORONTO, March 20, 2000 -- Anne Leahy, Diplomat-in-Residence at the York University Centre for International and Security Studies, will talk about the pressures facing Russia today and sketch the 100-year-history of bilateral relations between Canada and Russia during her delivery of the annual John Holmes Memorial Lecture, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 at York University's Glendon College.

Leahy, who came to York last summer from her posting as Ambassador to the Russian Federation, will discuss Putin's Russia and the policies of its western partners, including that of Canada, which have been financially and politically committed to the success of Russia's transition since 1991. The former Ambassador to Poland, Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic will look at the challenges and opportunities for implementing democratic reform including the impact of the current Russian intervention in Chechnya.

Leahy notes that Canada and Russia, whose official relations go back to May of 1900, share many similarities, including abundant natural resources and interests in European security as well as in the Asia-Pacific region. They also share an interest in the efficient working of a multilateral order.

The annual John Holmes Memorial Lecture, hosted by Glendon College Principal Prof. Kenneth McRoberts, honours the late John W. Holmes, O.C., Canadian diplomat, writer, administrator and teacher, who was a Professor of International Relations at Glendon College, York University, from 1971 to 1981. He was the author of numerous articles and books, including The Better Part of Valour: Essays on Canadian Diplomacy.

The free public lecture will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at York Hall, Room 204, Glendon College, 2275 Bayview Avenue.

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For more information, please contact:

Guy Larocque
External Relations
Glendon College, York University
(416) 487-6829
glarocque@glendon.yorku.ca
YU/034/00