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<p><font size="+1"><strong>February 3, 2005 <em>(9:10 p.m.EST)</em><br>
No. 24</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>MINISTER PETTIGREW TO VISIT THE MIDDLE EAST</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew will visit the Middle East from February 6 to 12,
2005. While in the region, Minister Pettigrew will travel to Jordan, Israel, the West Bank
and Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.</p>
<p>"I am heading to the region at a time of renewed hope. Canada welcomes the Sharm el
Sheikh Summit to be held next week, and I look forward to discussing with my
counterparts how Canada can support positive developments in the search for peace in
the Middle East," said Minister Pettigrew. "The growing signs of trust and cooperation
between Palestinians and Israelis must be nourished. We are ready, in concert with the
international community, to support the Palestinian Authority in preparation for Gaza
withdrawal, which is a very positive step taken by Prime Minister Sharon."</p>
<p>Minister Pettigrew's itinerary features a large number of meetings with leaders and
high-ranking officials, business people, academics and civil society groups. On
February 6 at the Dead Sea in Jordan, the Minister will attend a conference on "Good
Governance for Development in the Arab Countries," which will be the launch point for a
joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme and the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan, in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development. Minister Pettigrew will meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan and Prime
Minister Faisal Fayez on the margins of the conference.</p>
<p>On February 7, the Minister will meet with several Israeli officials in both Tel Aviv, Israel,
and Jerusalem, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom,
Vice Premier Shimon Peres and President Moshe Katsav. The Minister will speak that
evening at the Israel-Canada Chamber of Commerce Gala in Tel Aviv and will meet
there with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Employment Ehud
Olmert. He will also meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon later that week on February
10.</p>
<p>On February 7 in Amman, Jordan, Minister Pettigrew will meet with Foreign Minister
Hani Mulki, and on February 8 with Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher. On
February 9 and 10 in Ramallah, the West Bank, he will meet with Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, Foreign Affairs Minister
Nabil Shaath and Finance Minister Salam Fayyad.</p>
<p>Minister Pettigrew will then continue on to Lebanon on February 11, where he will
attend several meetings with Lebanese officials, including President Emile Lahoud,
Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Omar Karamé and Foreign Minister
Mahmoud Hammoud. Finally, on February 12, the Minister will meet with Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Naji Al-Otri and Foreign Minister
Farouk al-Shaara in Damascus, Syria.</p>
<p>Minister Pettigrew will be accompanied by Members of Parliament Bill Casey,
Francine Lalonde and Alexa McDonough.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>A backgrounder is attached.</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:<br>
</p>
<p>Sébastien Théberge<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220184454/http://www.international.gc.ca/">http://www.international.gc.ca</a></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>Backgrounder</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>CANADIAN POLICIES ON KEY ISSUES <br>
IN THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT</strong></font></p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>Support for Israel and its security</strong></p>
<p>Support for Israel, especially its right to live in peace with its neighbours within secure
boundaries, has been at the core of Canada's Middle East policy since 1948. Canada
recognizes Israel's right to assure its own security, and to take proportionate measures
in accordance with international law, including human rights and international
humanitarian law, to protect the security of its citizens from attacks by terrorist groups.</p>
<p><strong>Palestinian statehood</strong></p>
<p>The international community has recognized the Palestinian right of self-determination,
which should be implemented through negotiations. Canada supports the creation of a
sovereign, independent, viable, democratic and territorially contiguous Palestinian state,
as part of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace settlement.</p>
<p><strong>Support for a comprehensive peace settlement</strong></p>
<p>Canada is committed to the goal of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the
Middle East, and to the creation of a sovereign, independent, viable, democratic and
territorially contiguous Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with
Israel.</p>
<p>The 1993 Israel-Palestine Liberation Organization Declaration of Principles continues to
provide the basis for a comprehensive agreement based on UN Security Council
Resolutions 242 and 338. Canada welcomed the decision of the Palestine National
Council to accept UN Security Council Resolution 242 as a basis for peace negotiations
as well as mutual recognition by Israel and the PLO in 1993.</p>
<p>Canada strongly supports the Quartet's Road Map, which sets out the obligations of
both parties and steps for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Canada supports
other recent efforts by Israelis and Palestinians to work toward peace, for example at
Sharm el-Sheikh in 1999 and Taba in 2000, and encourages regional and civil-society
initiatives to end the conflict.</p>
<p>Canada supports the Declaration of Principles, along with the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace
Treaty, and the 1994 Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty, as endorsed by United Nations
Security Council Resolution 1515 of November 2003.</p>
<p>Canada has continuously shared in practical contributions by the international
community, such as participation in peacekeeping forces and the delivery of
development assistance programs in the region.</p>
<p><strong>Status of Jerusalem</strong></p>
<p>Canada considers that the status of Jerusalem can be resolved only as part of a
general settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli dispute. Canada opposes Israel's unilateral
annexation of East Jerusalem.</p>
<p><strong>Palestinian refugees</strong></p>
<p>A just solution to the Palestinian refugee issue is central to the Middle East Peace
Process and indispensable to a peace settlement, as called for in United Nations
Security Council Resolution 242. Such a solution must be negotiated among the parties
concerned in the context of a final status peace agreement. This solution should
respect the rights of the refugees, in accordance with international law.</p>
<p>Canada voted in favour of UN General Assembly Resolution 194 of December 11,
1948, which stipulates "...that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at
peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practical date,
and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return
and for loss or damage to property that, under the principles of international law or in
equity, should be made good by the governments or authorities responsible." This
resolution has been reaffirmed every year.</p>
<p>Canada continues to support Resolution 194, and believes that its provisions must be
exercised in the context of an eventual peace agreement among the parties and in light
of developments since 1948, including United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242
and 338, bilateral negotiations and the Oslo Accords.</p>
<p>Canada has played a prominent role in the search for a viable and comprehensive
solution to the Palestinian refugee issue, primarily as Gavel Holder of the multilateral
Refugee Working Group. Although the Refugee Working Group has been formally in
abeyance since 1996, Canada has continued to focus international attention on the
situation of the more than four million Palestinian refugees, and to promote
preparations for the eventual resumption of negotiations.</p>
<p><strong>Occupied territories</strong></p>
<p>Canada does not recognize permanent Israeli control over territories occupied in 1967
(the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip).</p>
<p>Canada opposes all unilateral actions that might prejudge the outcome of negotiations,
including the establishment of settlements in the territories, unilateral moves to annex
East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, and construction of the barrier inside the West
Bank and East Jerusalem.</p>
<p>The Fourth Geneva Convention applies in the occupied territories and establishes
Israel's obligations as an occupying power, in particular with respect to the humane
treatment of the inhabitants of the occupied territories.</p>
<p>UN Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465 refer to Israeli settlements in occupied
territories as a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The settlements also
constitute a serious obstacle to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.</p>
<p>In addition to its obligations under international humanitarian law, Israel has obligations
under human rights law with respect to the inhabitants of the occupied territories.</p>
<p><strong>Terrorism</strong></p>
<p>Canada condemns all acts of terrorism, wherever they may occur. Terrorists should be
brought to justice and prosecuted in accordance with international law. Terrorism must
be rejected as a means for achieving political ends. It is counterproductive to reaching a
comprehensive, just and lasting peace settlement.</p>
<p>Canada has listed Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs'
Brigades, and other groups as terrorist organizations in accordance with UN Resolution
1373 (2001) and Canadian legislation.</p>
<p><strong>The Palestine Liberation Organization</strong></p>
<p>Canada recognizes the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the principal
representative of the Palestinian people. Canada also recognizes the Palestinian
Authority (PA) as the governmental entity of the Palestinian people in the West Bank
and Gaza.</p>
<p><strong>Palestinian reform</strong></p>
<p>Canada supports Palestinian elections and the reform of Palestinian governance.</p>
<p>Canada supports international efforts to assist the Palestinians in the development of
transparent and accountable governance institutions and structures to ensure respect
for human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.</p>
<p><strong>Respect for human rights and international humanitarian law</strong></p>
<p>Israel and the Palestinian Authority must comply with their obligations under
international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Canada believes
strongly that respect by the parties for human rights and international humanitarian law
is key to ensuring the protection of civilians, and can contribute to the creation of a
climate conducive to achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement.</p>
<p><strong>The barrier</strong></p>
<p>Canada recognizes Israel's right to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks, including
through the restriction of access to its territory, and to build a barrier on its own territory
for security purposes. Canada has consistently maintained that Israel's construction of
the barrier inside the West Bank and East Jerusalem is contrary to international law.
Canada opposes Israel's construction of a barrier extending into the occupied
territories, as well as expropriations and the demolition of houses and economic
infrastructure carried out for this purpose.</p>
<p><strong>United Nations resolutions on the Middle East</strong></p>
<p>The United Nations has played an important role in efforts to resolve the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Canada assesses UN resolutions in the light of their merits
and consistency with our principles. Canada advocates a fair-minded approach and
rejects one-sided resolutions in international forums. Successive Canadian
governments have been concerned about the polemical nature of many of the Middle
East resolutions.</p>
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