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<title>SENATOR WILSON TO VISIT WASHINGTON</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>March 23, 2000 <em>(4:15 p.m. EST)</em> No. 53</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>SENATOR WILSON TO VISIT WASHINGTON</strong></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong> </strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Senator Lois Wilson, Canada's Special Envoy to
the Sudan Peace Process, will pay a two-day visit to Washington, March 23 to 24, to discuss recent
developments in the peace process with U.S. governmental, international and civil society contacts. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Senator Wilson is expected to hold talks with Mr. Harry Johnstone, United States Special Envoy on Sudan;
Mr. Francis Deng, United Nations Special Representative for Internally Displaced Persons; Mr. Thomas
Vraalsen, United Nations Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan; Ms. Jemera Rone of
Human Rights Watch; Ms. Marianne Leach of CARE; state department officials; and Mr. Raymond Chrétien,
Canadian Ambassador to the United States.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Senator Wilson's visit to Washington and the discussions that she will hold underline our continuing and deep
commitment to the peace process in Sudan," said Mr. Axworthy. "This will give her an opportunity to engage
with other key partners working toward a settlement of this tragic and long-standing conflict."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"> </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Senator Wilson is expected to raise the question of how to generate maximum support for the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) peace process for Sudan, including discussion of the
Canadian proposal to seek a UN Security Council endorsement for IGAD's mediation efforts. IGAD is a regional
organization, headed by Kenya, that has been mandated by the Organization for African Unity to lead efforts to
bring about a comprehensive and just conclusion to the lengthy civil war in Sudan.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Debora Brown Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851 and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
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