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<title>KILGOUR TO VISIT SRI LANKA, THAILAND AND BANGLADESH</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>March 21, 2002 <em>(4:00 p.m. EST)</em> No. 27</strong></font><font size="+1"></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>KILGOUR TO VISIT SRI LANKA, THAILAND AND BANGLADESH</strong></font></p>
<p>Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) David Kilgour today announced that he will be travelling to Sri Lanka, Thailand and
Bangladesh from March 24 to April 2, 2002. In Bangladesh, the Minister will be joined by a seven-member Canadian
business delegation.</p>
<p>"On this visit I will focus on enhancing trade relations, exchanging views with government officials and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) on issues relating to human rights, good governance and security, and seeing first hand the
development work being undertaken by Canadians in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Bangladesh," said Mr. Kilgour. "I will also
voice Canada's strong support for the progress that is being made toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sri Lanka."</p>
<p>In Sri Lanka, Mr. Kilgour will meet with Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando, Minister of Economic Reform, Science and
Technology Milinda Moragoda, and Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and
Minister of Constitutional Affairs Professor G. L. Peiris to discuss the Sri Lankan peace process and future bilateral
commercial possibilities. He will raise the same issues in meetings with local NGOs and members of the business
community. The Secretary of State will also travel to Batticoloa in the war-affected east of the country to better his
understanding of the Sri Lankan conflict and visit CIDA-sponsored development projects in the area.</p>
<p>In Thailand, Mr. Kilgour will meet with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss, among other topics,
regional security and the fight against drug trafficking. He will also meet with Canadian and local business people and
NGOs and visit a Canada Fund Project that provides street children with food, shelter and education.</p>
<p>In Dhaka, Bangladesh, Mr. Kilgour will meet with Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. He and the accompanying
Canadian business delegation will also meet with several senior government officials and business people to further
bilateral trade ties and explore business opportunities in the power, oil and gas, and information technology sectors. In
addition, the Secretary of State will launch the Canada-Bangladesh Business Council, participate in a groundbreaking
ceremony for the new Canadian chancery complex in Dhaka, and visit a number of CIDA-sponsored NGO projects in
Gazipur that promote education, women's rights, food production and infrastructure development.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>The schedule of Mr. Kilgour's media events is attached.</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Marieke Andronache</p>
<p>Office of the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)</p>
<p>(613) 995-8697</p>
<p>Media Relations Office</p>
<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/20070221123900/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a> </p>
<p><strong><font size="+1">SCHEDULE OF MR. KILGOUR'S MEDIA EVENTS</strong></font><font size="+1"></font></p>
<p><strong><u>Colombo, Sri Lanka</u></strong><u></u></p>
<p><strong>Event: Statement at luncheon hosted by the Governance and Institutional Strengthening Project (open to media)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Tuesday, March 26, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time: </strong> 12:00 p.m.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> King's Court, Transasia Hotel </p>
<p><strong>Event:</strong> <strong>News conference on visit to Sri Lanka</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Wednesday, March 27, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time: </strong> 6:00 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Boardroom 2, 3rd Floor, Hilton Hotel</p>
<p><strong><u>Dhaka, Bangladesh</u></strong><u></u></p>
<p><strong>Event: Statement to Training Program on Environmental Law and Court Proceedings (open to media)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Monday, April 1, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time: </strong>8:50 a.m.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> JATI Building (Old High Court)</p>
<p><strong>Event: Statement at luncheon hosted by the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Industries/launch of Canada-Bangladesh Business Council (open to media)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Monday, April 1, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time: </strong>12:45 p.m.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> South Ball Room, Sheraton Hotel</p>
<p><strong>Event: Statement at groundbreaking ceremony for new Canadian chancery complex (open to media)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Monday, April 1, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time: </strong>3:30 p.m.<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Baridhara, Dhaka</p>
<p><strong>Event: Visit to CARE and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee Projects (open to media)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Tuesday, April 2, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time: </strong> 2:15 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Gazipur</p>
<p><strong>Event:</strong> <strong>News Conference on visit to Bangladesh (open to media)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Date:</strong> Tuesday, April 2, 2002</p>
<p><strong>Time: </strong> 6:30 p.m.</p>
<p><strong>Location:</strong> Salon Surma, Sonargaon Hotel</p>
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