March 23, 2000 (4:15 p.m. EST) No. 53

SENATOR WILSON TO VISIT WASHINGTON

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.

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.

"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."

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.

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