Prime Minister Chrétien today announced the conclusion of two bilateral agreements between Canada and Lebanon. The Prime Minister made the announcement in Beirut, following meetings with Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss, House Speaker Nabih Berri and President Emile Lahoud.

"Canada and Lebanon are joined by strong and longstanding ties of family and friendship," said the Prime Minister. "These agreements lay the groundwork for making us even closer friends and partners. I am particularly pleased that we have agreed to closer cooperation in consular matters. This represents one more step by both nations in resolving the illicit transfer of children abroad."

The two agreements reached are:

An Agreement on the Consular Elements of Family Matters was signed by Ambassador Haig Sarafian on behalf of Canada and Minister of Justice Joseph Shaoul, on behalf of Lebanon. It creates a formal framework for discussing and sharing information on particular consular cases, including child custody cases, in order to combat the illicit transfer of children abroad.

The Canada-Lebanon Air Transport Agreement will provide the framework necessary for the initiation of air services between Canada and Lebanon. The agreement is expected to be signed in the next few weeks.

The Prime Minister also noted that Canada’s Export Development Corporation has established a second US$10 million line of credit in Lebanon with Byblos Bank SAL, one of the largest banks in Lebanon. The line of credit will be used to finance the purchase of Canadian goods and services by Lebanese buyers.

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The Agreement on the Consular Elements of Family Matters creates a formal framework for discussing and sharing information on particular consular cases, including child custody cases, in order to combat the illicit transfer of children abroad. It provides a formal channel of communications at the diplomatic level between Canada and Lebanon through the establishment of a Joint Consultative Commission comprising representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice and the Interior for Lebanon, and representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Royal Canadian Mounted Police for Canada.

The agreement is not intended to replace the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of Child Abduction, which contains compulsory provisions for the return of abducted children. It represents a commitment to bilateral cooperation on the file and creates an official channel of recourse for family members seeking justice.

Canada continues to encourage Lebanon to become party to the Hague Convention to further assist in the resolution of international child abduction issues.

The Canada-Lebanon Air Transport Agreement will present an opportunity for the initiation of air services between Canada and Lebanon. Rights granted by one nation to the other under the Agreement include the right to fly across its territory without landing; the right to land in its territory for non-traffic purposes; and the right to make stops in its territory on specified routes for the purpose of taking up and discharging international traffic in passengers and cargo, including mail.