NEWS RELEASES
PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA TO VISIT CANADA
July 4, 1996 No. 124
PRESIDENT OF CATALONIA TO VISIT CANADA
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that the President of the
Autonomous Government of Catalonia in Spain, Mr. Jordi Pujol, will visit Canada
from July 6 to 11.
A working visit is scheduled for July 8 in Ottawa, where Mr. Pujol will meet with
Mr. Axworthy and the President of the Privy Council and Minister for
Intergovernmental Affairs, Stéphane Dion.
"My discussions with President Pujol will focus mainly on economic, academic and
cultural issues," said Mr. Axworthy.
While in Canada, President Pujol will be staying primarily in Montreal and Quebec
City, where important events celebrating the arts and culture of Catalonia have
been organized. These include exhibits of paintings, song recitals by Catalan
artists and architectural shows.
"Catalonia is interested in the inventiveness and originality of Canadian culture
and the many faces of Canadian reality, as evidenced by the opening of the
University of Barcelona's Centre for Canadian Studies in April 1996," stated
Mr. Axworthy.
In 1995, Canada imported $75 million worth of goods from Catalonia and exported a
total of $98 million.
Catalonia has a population of about six million. The capital, Barcelona, is
Spain's second-largest city.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Catherine Lappe
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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