Foreign Minister John Baird visits Syria’s neighbours to ease tension

The Globe and Mail

Campbell Clark
August 10, 2012

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When he landed in Lebanon to start a Mideast tour on Friday, John Baird sent a message about Canada’s dominant concern about conflict in Syria: the fear it might spread.

Mr. Baird’s three-day mission, including meetings in Beirut and Amman, is aimed at underlining Ottawa's broader priority: promoting stability in Syria’s neighbours so they don’t slip down a similar path of conflict.

The centrepiece of his trip will be his same-day trek to Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp to meet refugees from Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Unlike Britain, which pledged £5-million ($7.8-million Canadian) in non-weapon aid for Syrian rebels, Canada hasn’t overtly …

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