NEWS RELEASES

January 26, 2000 (11:40 a.m. EST) No. 11

AXWORTHY TO VISIT RUSSIA

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy today announced that he will travel to Moscow to attend a meeting of the Multilateral Steering Group of the Middle East Peace Process on February 1 and visit St. Petersburg on February 2.

"The Steering Group meeting will focus on how we can build a broader base for peace in the Middle East," said Mr. Axworthy. "Bringing security and well-being to all people in the region is the ultimate goal of the peace process. This means building common understanding and finding common approaches to issues that transcend national boundaries."

Canada is one of only twelve members of the Steering Group, whose meeting in Moscow will be the second at the ministerial level since its establishment in February 1992. The Steering Group oversees multilateral track activities in five working groups dealing with arms control and regional security, the environment, regional economic development, refugees and water resources. A regional economic summit process, a regional development bank and an international committee to support Palestinian economic development are also part of the multilateral track. Canada is the Gavel of the Refugee Working Group.

Minister Axworthy stated that "our objective in the Refugee Working Group is to help the parties achieve a just and lasting resolution to the Palestinian refugee issue. Canada has also led international efforts to improve the humanitarian conditions of the refugees as they await the conclusion of this crucial element of the peace process."

Mr. Axworthy is also expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. He will register Canada's continuing concerns about the conflict in Chechnya, where civilian casualties have mounted dramatically in recent days. In St. Petersburg, Minister Axworthy will meet with Governor Vladimir Yakovlev and deliver a speech on Canada-Russia relations, including northern co-operation and human security.

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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