NEWS RELEASES
AXWORTHY ENCOURAGES ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS TO CONTINUE SEARCH FOR PEACE
July 25, 2000 (5:55 p.m. EDT) No. 183
AXWORTHY ENCOURAGES ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS
TO CONTINUE SEARCH FOR PEACE
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to
continue their search for peace following the news that negotiations at Camp David,
Maryland, had broken off without an agreement being reached.
"Negotiations on such sensitive issues are extremely complicated," said Mr. Axworthy.
"Israeli Prime Minister Barak and Palestinian Chairman Arafat have shown tremendous
courage and vision in their pursuit of peace and I urge both leaders to return to the
negotiating table, as soon as possible, to finalize a comprehensive agreement."
The Minister also underlined the key role that the U.S. President had played in the
negotiations and added that he was encouraged by Mr. Clinton's assessment that
progress had been made. Mr. Axworthy also noted with satisfaction that substantive
dialogue on all core issues had taken place at Camp David and that the leaders had
agreed to continue working toward a settlement.
Finally, Mr Axworthy reiterated Canada's strong commitment to assisting the parties in
achieving peace and confirmed that Canada would continue its important work as Chair
of the Refugee Working Group.
The Camp David talks, which began on July 10 under the auspices of President Clinton,
were intended to help Israelis and Palestinians move toward a final status agreement
prior to an agreed deadline of September 13, 2000.
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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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