NEWS RELEASES
KILGOUR VISITS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, BURUNDI, RWANDA AND ZAMBIA
July 6, 2000 (10:00 a.m. EDT) No. 174
KILGOUR VISITS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, BURUNDI,
RWANDA AND ZAMBIA
Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) David Kilgour, today announced his visit to
Burundi, Rwanda and Zambia from July 6 to 14, following a visit to the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) on July 4 and 5.
"This trip will afford us an opportunity to share Canada's concerns regarding the current
situation in the African Great Lakes region, and to reiterate our support for the Burundi
peace process and the Lusaka Agreement in particular," said Kilgour. "I hope that talks
with political leaders from these countries will allow us to strengthen our bilateral ties."
While in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kilgour met with Minister of Foreign Affairs
Abdulaye Yerodia and other high-ranking government officials to discuss the National
Dialogue and the Lusaka Agreement.
During his trip to Burundi, Kilgour will meet with President Major Pierre Buyoya and First
Vice-President Frédérick Bamvuginyumvira to discuss the peace process. Kilgour will
also meet with Canadians living in Burundi.
Kilgour will then visit Rwanda, where he will meet President Paul Kagame and senior
officials to discuss bilateral issues, the peace process in the DRC as well as regional
security.
In Zambia, Kilgour will meet with President Frederick Chiluba, an African leader who
has encouraged the peace process. They will review current events and the search for
a just resolution to the conflict in the Great Lakes region. They will also discuss issues
of mutual concern.
On his way to Africa, Kilgour made a stopover in London on July 2 and 3 to meet with
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State, Peter Hain, and to participate in
two round tables on the crisis in the African Great Lakes region.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Tasha Stefanis
Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
(613) 944-2162
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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