Canada's prime minister to hold a Middle East tour

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien will hold a Middle East tour on April 7 through 19. The tour will cover Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, the Palestinian self-rule authority and Israel.

In a statement he made on Monday the Canadian prime minister said Canada has played an important role in the Middle East peace process and, "I will try to explore the ways in which we can give the Middle East peace process a push forward. I will also try to discuss with the leaders of the region on several political and trade issues of joint interest."

Meanwhile, a well-informed source as the Canadian embassy in Damascus said that the Canadian premier will discuss during his visit the possibilities and means of investing Canadian expertise in the areas of peacekeeping, dismantling of mines and developmen, as well as issues connected to refugees in order to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region and give a push forward to trade relations with the countries of the region.

The volume of trade exchange between Canada and the Middle East reached US $2 billion in 1999.

News reports in Jordan said that Canadian premier will start today a visit to Jordan which will last for four days within his tour on the region.

He will hold in Jordan on latest developments in the region and Palestinian refugees affairs as Canada chairs the Palestinian refugees work group of the multilateral talks.