*EPF411 06/12/2003
Text: Powell to Visit Cambodia, Bangladesh and Jordan
(Will attend ASEAN meetings, World Economic Forum) (480)

Secretary Colin Powell will travel to Cambodia, Bangladesh and Jordan between June 16 and June 23.

According to a June 12 State Department press notice, Powell will attend two meetings in Phnom Penh June 18-19 organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) before going to Bangladesh on June 19.

The press notice praised Bangladesh as a voice of moderation in the Muslim world, as a steadfast partner in the war on terrorism, and for making solid progress in building democratic institutions.

In Jordan, Powell will attend the World Economic Forum where he will discuss proposals for a Middle East Free Trade Area and the Middle East Partnership Initiative. He will also meet with officials from the United Nations, European Union and Russia in Amman June 22 to discuss ways of assisting Israel and the Palestinians in their efforts to end terror and violence, and moving towards the goal of a peaceful, two-state solution.

Following is the text of the State Department press notice on Secretary Powell's upcoming travel:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
June 12, 2003

NOTICE TO THE PRESS

Secretary Powell Trip to Cambodia, Bangladesh and Jordan

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell will depart June 16 for travel to Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Jordan, returning on June 23.

He will attend meetings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- the ASEAN Regional Forum on June 18 and the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference on June 19 - for discussions on regional security issues and other international political and economic matters.

The Secretary will visit Bangladesh on June 19 for meetings with the Prime Minister and other senior officials. The United States values Bangladesh highly as a voice of moderation in the Muslim world. It has been a steadfast partner in the war on terrorism and has made solid progress in building democratic institutions, especially the holding of free and fair elections.

President Bush has asked the Secretary and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick to attend the World Economic Forum in Jordan, to discuss the newly announced Middle East Free Trade Area and the Middle East Partnership Initiative. Secretary Powell will also participate in smaller meetings with regional economic and foreign policy leaders to explore U.S. support for their efforts to expand economic, political, and educational opportunity across the Middle East.

While in Jordan, Secretary Powell will meet with the principals of the Middle East Quartet on June 22. The Quartet principals will review the results of the Red Sea Summit meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh and Aqaba, and how best to assist Israeli and Palestinian efforts to end terror and violence and make progress toward President Bush's vision of two states-Israel and Palestine-living side by side in peace and security.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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