NEWS RELEASES
KNUTSON VISITS CENTRAL ASIA
May 13, 2002 (1:40 p.m. EDT) No. 50
KNUTSON VISITS CENTRAL ASIA
Gar Knutson, Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East) is visiting Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic
and Uzbekistan from May 11 to 20, 2002.
"During this visit I hope to develop further Canada's relations with these Central Asian countries, with a particular
emphasis on expanding trade to the region," said Mr. Knutson. "Discussions with senior officials will also focus on
economic and political reform and security issues--including the international fight against terrorism--as well as
environmental, human rights and development issues."
In Kazakhstan, Mr. Knutson will meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Alexander Pavlov, Minister of
Energy and Mineral Resources Vladimir Shkolnik, and Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Abouseitov. He will also meet with
members of the Canadian business community active in Kazakhstan as well as local representatives of the International
Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe and the United Nations. Finally, he will participate in discussions with NGOs and visit a drug rehabilitation centre
in Almaty funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.
Mr. Knutson will then travel to the Kyrgyz Republic where he will meet with President Askar Akayev, Vice Prime Minister
and Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry Arzymat Sulaimankulov, and Foreign Minister Muratbek Imanaliev.
The Secretary of State will then visit Uzbekistan where he will meet with Minister for Foreign Economic Relations Elyor
Ganiyev and other government officials as well as members of the Canadian and Uzbekistani business communities.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Susan McConnell
Office of the Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East)
(613) 990-7769
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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