[With thanks to IMRA for citing this reference on the web]
The following joint press release would seem to the untrained eye on middle east matters that Canada has just endorsed an the innocuous and harmless “Arab peace initiative”,which had been initiated by the Saudi Arabian government and adopted by the Arab League in Beirut on March 30th, 2002.
Either the Canadian minister of external affairs knew or did not know of the commitment of that summit to the endorsement of the “right of return”, for millions of Palestinian Arab refugees to be able to take back their homes from 1948 which no longer exist.
Either way, this should be a matter for the Canadian parliament to look into – David Bedein.

Shara and Canadian Counterpart hold talks

DAMASCUS, February 12

www.sana.org/english/headlines/12-2/shara_and_canadian_counterpart_h.htm

Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara on Saturday said that the just and comprehensive peace on all tracks based on the international legitimacy is the only guarantee to achieve security and stability in the region.

Shara, during an official session of talks with Canadian counterpart, Pierre Pettigrew, renewed the importance of reviving the Arab peace initiative,which was endorsed in Beirut in 2002.

In this regard Pettigrew voiced his country’s interest in the Palestinian refugees right to return home in accordance with resolution No /194 /

Regarding Iraq, both sides viewpoints were concordant over the significance of completing the political process after the elections in a way that secures a full participation of the Iraqi people in future of Iraq.

Shara and Pettigrew also discussed latest developments on the regional and international scenes, the existing bilateral relations between Syria and Canada voicing the joint desire to develop those relations in all fields.

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