<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT ALGERIA</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">February 12, 1998 Nº 29</font></p>
<p><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS TO VISIT ALGERIA</font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that a delegation of
Canadian parliamentarians will visit Algeria in March 1998 at the invitation of
Algeria's National People's Assembly. The delegation will be led by the Minister
of State and Government House Leader, the Honourable Don Boudria.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I am pleased with this invitation by the National People's Assembly," said Mr.
Axworthy. "This visit will take place within the framework of the political
dialogue between Canadian and Algerian authorities, which has intensified
recently following the tragic events in Algeria over the past months."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">During their stay in Algeria, Minister Boudria and the other parliamentarians
will discuss the security situation in the country and the plight of the people
with their Algerian counterparts and with civil society, as well as other issues
of common interest. Minister Boudria visited Algeria in December 1996.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"I am happy to return to Algeria to pursue further development of our relations
with this country," said Minister Boudria. "I will express all Canadians'
sympathy and solidarity with the Algerian population during this difficult
period. In addition to the security situation, I also plan to discuss the
bilateral relations between Canada and Algeria." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The Delegation will include Canadian parliamentarians, members of the Government
and of the Opposition.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">2</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
</body>
</html>
