Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien agreed last week to begin talks on a free-trade agreement between their countries that would eliminate all tariffs January 1996.
Rabin was in Ottawa for a few hours on Nov. 24 to meet briefly with Chretien, External Affairs Minister Andre Quellet and members of the Canadian Parliament.
Israel has had a free-trade agreement with the European Union since 1975 and with the United States since 1985.
Rabin’s visit to Canada came after he had concluded three days of talks in Washington, where he met with President Clinton, members of Congress and other government leaders.
From Canada, Rabin flew on to Madrid for a meeting with Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat aimed at solidifying the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
While they were in Spain, Rabin and Arafat received a prize, known as the Prince of Asturias Award, for international cooperation.
The award, named for Felipe, the Prince of Asturias and heir to the Spanish thrown, carries a cash grant of some $38,000.
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