NEWS RELEASES
STEWART VISITS KENYA AND SOUTH AFRICA
March 26, 1997 No. 63
STEWART VISITS KENYA AND SOUTH AFRICA
Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) Christine Stewart visited Kenya and
South Africa from March 21 to 26. It was Mrs. Stewart's first official visit to
Kenya, and included a full range of discussions aimed at furthering Canada's
bilateral relations with Kenya.
In Nairobi, Mrs. Stewart met President Daniel Arap Moi, Vice President George
Saitoti and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kalonzo Musyoka as well as representatives
of the human rights community and reform-minded political and business figures.
She and President Moi discussed the conflict in the African Great Lakes region.
Kenya has played a pivotal role in regional negotiations on this issue.
While in South Africa, Mrs. Stewart met with government ministers and senior
officials as part of Canada's ongoing discussions with South Africa on the Great
Lakes conflict, land mines and other common agenda items. She also attended
meetings on Canadian bilateral and partnership programs in South Africa.
"Canada values greatly South Africa's perspectives and suggestions on issues
critical to the region. With the ongoing strife in Central Africa, it is essential
to enhance our dialogue whenever possible as we search for a means to lessen human
suffering," Mrs. Stewart said.
Secretary of State Stewart was accompanied to Kenya and South Africa by a Canadian
business delegation representing the telecommunications sector. "We hope to see
increasing Canadian company involvement in this sector as these countries'
economies continue to grow," said Mrs. Stewart.
Mrs. Stewart took part in the Tel.Com '97 Telecommunications Conference and
Exhibition in Johannesburg. She met South African Minister for Posts and
Communications Jay Naidoo and joined him in some of the Tel.Com '97 activities. In
Cape Town, Mrs. Stewart was the keynote speaker at the Canada-South Africa Trade
and Investment Seminar and met the Premier of the Western Cape, Hernus Kriel.
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Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
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