Visit of Secretary of State Albright to the Middle East

Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will depart for a trip to the Middle East and Asia on Wednesday, September 1, State Department Spokesman James P. Rubin announced August 16.

In the Middle East she will visit Morocco, Egypt, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Syria and Jordan to promote progress on all tracks of the Middle East peace process and to consult with leaders on issues of bilateral concern.

Following her visit to Jordan, on September 5, Albright will travel to Vietnam where she will have discussions with senior Vietnamese leaders on a broad range of subjects.

The Secretary will then travel to Auckland, New Zealand, arriving September 8, for the annual APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum) ministerial meetings.

Following is the State Department text:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
August 16, 1999

STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN

Travel of Secretary of State Albright to the Middle East and Asia

Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will travel to the Middle East and Asia in September 1999.

The Secretary will depart for the Middle East on Wednesday, September 1. While in the region, she will visit Morocco, Egypt, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Syria and Jordan.

On September 1 Secretary Albright will meet with King Mohammed of Morocco and Prime Minister Yousouffi. From Morocco, she will travel to Egypt on September 2 to meet with President Mubarak and Foreign Minister Moussa. That evening she will travel to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Barak, and will remain overnight. On Friday, September 3, Secretary Albright will meet with Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Barak, President Weizman, Foreign Minister Levy, and Likud party leader Ariel Sharon. The Secretary also will meet with PLO Chairman Arafat on Friday evening. On Saturday, September 4, the Secretary will travel to Syria to meet with President Assad. She will return to Israel Saturday evening. On Sunday, September 5, Secretary Albright will travel to Jordan, where she will meet with King Abdullah.

The purpose of the Secretary's travel to the Middle East will be to promote progress on all tracks of the peace process and to consult with leaders on issues of bilateral concern.

Following her visit to the Jordan, Secretary Albright will travel to Vietnam and New Zealand.

Secretary Albright will arrive in Vietnam September 5, where she will have discussions with senior Vietnamese leaders on a broad range of subjects. The U.S. and Vietnam have reached an agreement in principle on trade and investment that will permit improved commercial relations. The Secretary will emphasize the importance of further economic reform, as well as improvements in human rights and our close cooperation on the POW/MIA issue. In addition to her stop in Hanoi, the Secretary will visit Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, September 6, and will dedicate our new Consulate General on Tuesday, September 7.

Secretary Albright will then travel to Auckland, New Zealand, arriving September 8, for the annual APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum) ministerial meetings. The ministers will meet September 9-10 to discuss trade, financial, and other economic issues, including APEC's role in global trade liberalization in advance of the November WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle, opening markets, opportunities for expanding business in the region, and the after-effects of the regional financial crisis. While in Auckland, the Secretary will also have an opportunity to hold bilateral meetings with a number of key counterparts.

The ministerial meetings will be followed by the September 12-13 APEC Leaders Meeting, which President Clinton will attend.

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