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<title>KILGOUR - VISIT TO ALGERIA, TUNISIA AND LIBYA</title>
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<p><strong>January 10, 2002 No. 4</strong></p>
<p>David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa), will visit: Algiers, Algeria; Tunis, Tunisia; and Tripoli,
Libya, from January 12 to 19, 2002. </p>
<p>Algeria is Canada's largest trading partner in Africa and the Middle East and represents an important bilateral relationship.
While in Algiers from January 12 to 14, Mr. Kilgour is scheduled to meet with Ahmed Amine Kherbi, Minister Delegate to
the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chakib Khelil, Minister of Energy and Mines. During a visit to a
school supported by a Canada Fund Project, Le Service d'aide mobile de l'urgence sociale (SAMU), he will present a
cheque that will finance the building of classrooms and a playground for homeless children.</p>
<p>In Tunis, from January 14 to 16, Mr. Kilgour will co-chair the Regional Seminar on the Ottawa Convention in North Africa.
Key objectives of the conference are to discuss international cooperation mechanisms in mine action and foster the
conditions required for eventual adherence to the Ottawa Convention by all countries of the region. Mr. Kilgour will also
meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Habib Ben Yahia, and the Secretary of State in Charge of Maghrebi and African
Affairs, Sadok Fayala.</p>
<p>The first ever Canadian minister to visit Libya, Secretary of State Kilgour will be in Tripoli from January 16 to 18. As a
reflection of Canada's enhanced dialogue on a variety of issues and our increasing commercial ties, he will officially open
the Canadian embassy and meet the General Secretary (Minister) of Foreign Affairs, Abdel Rahman Shalgham, and the
General Secretary (Minister) of African Unity, Ali Abdel Salam Treiki. Mr. Kilgour will also host a small reception for the
Canadian community in Libya. The visit is intended to reinvigorate constructive political dialogue with a view to
encouraging Libya's efforts in the process of reintegration into the international system. </p>
<p><strong>Media opportunities are scheduled as follows:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Visit to Canada Fund Project: SAMU</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Monday, January 14, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time: </strong>3:30 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Frères Hamza Street</p>
<p>Dely Brahim-Alger, Algeria</p>
<p><strong>Pre-departure media availability</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date: </strong>Monday, January 14, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time:</strong> 2:00 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Salon d'honneur, Houari Boumediene Airport</p>
<p>Algiers, Algeria </p>
<p><strong>Official opening of the Canadian Embassy</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Thursday, January 17, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time:</strong> 1:00 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Seventh Floor, Al-Fateh Tower</p>
<p>Tripoli, Libya</p>
<p>All events are subject to scheduling changes.</p>
<p>For more information, please contact:</p>
<table border="1" width="100%" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1">
<tr valign="TOP"><td>Jacqueline O'Neill
<p>Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)</p>
<p>(613) 944-2162</p>
</td>
<td>Media Relations Office
<p>Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</p>
<p>(613) 995-1874</p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221124458/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></td></tr></table>
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