NEWS RELEASES

October 9, 2003 (2:25 p.m. EDT) No. 155

GRAHAM TO VISIT INDIA AND SRI LANKA

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham announced today that he will visit India and Sri Lanka, from October 10 to16. The Minister noted that this visit follows trips to Canada by India's External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, in September 2002, and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando in September 2003.

"Canada is actively pursuing a broadly based political and economic relationship with India as evidenced by increasing high-level visits and last year's very successful trade mission to India," said Minister Graham.

In Delhi, Minister Graham will meet with Minister Sinha and other senior government officials. Discussions will focus on ways to further enhance already strong bilateral relations--including commercial ties--and on regional security. The Minister will also participate in a round table discussion on regional issues with leading Indian political and economic analysts.

In Colombo and Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Mr. Graham will review how the conflict has affected Sri Lankans. He will explore how Canada can help advance the stalled peace process in discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other senior Sri Lankan officials.

"The conflict in Sri Lanka can only be resolved through a political settlement," said Minister Graham. "This visit will provide me with the opportunity to meet with a broad cross-section of Sri Lankan society to learn how the war has affected them, as well as their views on the peace process."

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