NEWS RELEASES
PETTIGREW TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OFLA FRANCOPHONIE AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION IN PARIS
September 9, 1996 No. 156
PETTIGREW TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF
LA FRANCOPHONIE AND INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION IN PARIS
The Minister for International Co-operation and Minister Responsible for la
Francophonie, Pierre S. Pettigrew, will visit Paris from September 11 to 13 to
discuss a number of issues concerning la Francophonie and co-operation with
representatives of several international institutions.
La Francophonie is the community of French-speaking peoples or peoples who use
French to varying degrees, domestically or internationally. It comprises 49
states and governments that share French as a common language. During his visit,
the Minister will have working meetings with the President of the Permanent
Council of La Francophonie, Dr. Émile-Derlin Zinsou, and the Secretary-General of
the Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (ACCT), Jean-Louis Roy.
"La Francophonie is currently strengthening its institutions with a view to taking
on a more political mission after the Hanoi Summit in 1997," said Mr. Pettigrew.
"La Francophonie is a well-established part of Canada's foreign policy. The
Canadian government, in the interest of all Canadians, has always made a point to
work together in the context of la Francophonie with those provinces having a
majority or significant minority of Francophones."
Minister Pettigrew will also take the opportunity to meet with the French Minister
for Co-operation, Jacques Godfrain, and the Secretary-General of the Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development, Don Johnston, as well as senior UNESCO
officials.
"The institutions that unite French-speaking countries provide important
opportunities for international co-operation in development," added Mr. Pettigrew.
"That is why Canada will continue to strengthen the role of these institutions,
while channelling 20 per cent of its bilateral development aid to members of la
Francophonie."
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
or
Mr. Chris Neal
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian International Development Agency
(819) 953-9505
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