Canadian prime minister to visit Sudan on Thursday

KHARTOUM, Nov 24, 2004 (SUNA) — The Canadian Prime Minister, Paul Martin, is due to arrive here on Thursday on a one-day visit to Sudan during which he will meet with the President of the Republic Omer Al-Bashir, and the First Vice- President, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha.

The Foreign Minister, Mustafa Osman Ismail, pointed out that the visit of the Canadian Prime Minister would review with officials in Sudan issues of peace in the south as well as the efforts being exerted to sign a final peace agreement by the end of the current year 2004 and the role of the international community for boosting peace in Sudan.

He said the talks would also discuss the situation in Darfur and the role that can be played by the Canadian government in boosting the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts and the voluntary return of displaced people and refugees to their home areas.

The minister pointed to the importance of the Canadian role for extending assistance to the Sudan, adding that Sudan could make use of the Canadian experience in the federal government field.

He referred to the convocation of a meeting of the joint Sudanese – Canadian political dialogue committee in Ottawa, Canada, and the issues it has reviewed.