Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird began a a 12-day visit to the Middle East on Friday. He will visit a number of countries and is expected to focus on three issues: the crisis in Syria, Iran’s nuclear ambitions and peace prospects in the region.
Mr. Baird is scheduled to visit Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Cyprus, Israel and the West Bank. He will complete his trip in London for a meeting of G8 foreign ministers.
The trip comes only days after U.S. President Barack Obama and his secretary of state, John Kerry, travelled to the region.
Mr. Baird’s tour includes one day in the West Bank and Ramallah and four days in Israel. He will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the West Bank, Mr. Baird will meet with Palestinian leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayed.
Mr. Baird says he will urge both sides to return to negotiations without preconditions.
The meetings come amidst tensions between Canada and the Palestinians. Last fall, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mr. Baird warned that a Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations would have “consequences.” Both sides appear to have drawn back from the angry words exchanged at the time.
Given the threats, Mr. Baird was asked whether Canada would continue to invest in the West Bank. He said there were would be discussions about “what their agenda is going forward, whether it’s in security, whether it’s in health, education and elsewhere.”Mr. Baird hinted that Ottawa will likely renew some parts of a five-year $300-million aid package that is due expire shortly (th)
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