NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY WELCOMES ISRAEL-SYRIA PEACE TALKS
December 10, 1999 (4:35 p.m. EST) No. 269
AXWORTHY WELCOMES ISRAEL-SYRIA PEACE TALKS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today welcomed the announcement that Israel
and Syria would resume peace negotiations that broke off in 1996.
"This is an important step along the road to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East,"
said Mr. Axworthy. "Prime Minister Barak and President Assad have shown their
goodwill by taking this brave initiative."
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara will
meet in Washington next week to begin the talks. Mr. Axworthy praised the American
involvement in bringing the two sides together. "President Clinton and Secretary of
State Albright should be commended for their role in persuading Israel and Syria to
restart negotiations." The Minister added that he hoped this announcement would bode
well for the resumption of talks between Israel and Lebanon.
Mr. Axworthy also noted that the multilateral track of the peace process will restart.
"We are very pleased to see that the multilaterals will resume activity. Canada, through
our role as Chair of the Refugee Working Group, has played an important role in the
multilateral process. We look forward to convening a Plenary Refugee Working Group
meeting early in 2000."
The multilateral track comprises five working groups that deal with water resources, the
environment, regional economic development, arms control and regional security, as
well as refugees. A steering group oversees the multilateral process and is expected to
meet in January.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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