NEWS RELEASES
MINISTER MARLEAU TO VISIT BELGIUM AND FRANCE
May 17, 1999 (10:45 a.m. EDT) No. 113
MINISTER MARLEAU TO VISIT BELGIUM AND FRANCE
The Minister for International Co-operation and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, Diane Marleau, will visit Belgium and
France from May 17 to May 20. As President of the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie, she will conduct strategy
consultations in preparation for the Moncton Summit.
"It is important for Canada to concentrate its actions, together with the other sponsors in La Francophonie, in high-priority areas
where progress must be made to prepare La Francophonie for the next millennium," said Madame Marleau.
Canada is determined to honour its long-standing human rights commitments. It will continue to give priority to new information
technologies and to the economic aspects of co-operation, through projects that are often geared toward youth, the major theme of
the Moncton Summit.
During her visit to Brussels, from May 17 to 19, the Minister will meet with officials of the Government of the French Community of
Belgium and of the Belgium federal government.
While in Paris, on May 19 and 20, Madame Marleau will hold meetings with the Minister responsible for Co-operation and La
Francophonie, Charles Josselin; the Secretary-General of La Francophonie, Boutros Boutros-Ghali; and the Chief Executive
Officer of the Permanent Agency of La Francophonie, Roger Dehaybe.
In addition to the Summit preparations, the discussions will cover Canada's major objectives for Moncton as well as Canada's
desire to maintain consistency in its major priorities and strategies. Talks will also focus on the importance of youth within La
Francophonie and on Canada's support for the Francophonie Agency's multilateral programs aimed at improving, for example,
human security and social and economic integration.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Chantal Reinert
Office of the Minister for International Co-operation
and Minister responsible for La Francophonie
(819) 997-6919
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
| 
