NEWS RELEASES
MONTREAL CHOSEN AS SITE FOR UNESCO INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS
May 26, 2000 (2:10 p.m. EDT) No. 120
MONTREAL CHOSEN AS SITE FOR UNESCO INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic
Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec) Martin Cauchon today welcomed the
announcement made in Paris that Montreal has been chosen by the Executive Board of UNESCO as the site
for the Organization's new Institute of Statistics. Montreal had been vying with Birmingham, England, The
Hague, Netherlands, and Paris, France.
"Canada is certain that the dynamic character of Montreal and its many research centres, complete with state-of-the-art facilities, will prove to be a crucial factor in the development and growth of UNESCO's new institute,"
said Mr. Axworthy. "We believe that this facility will be called on to play an important role, not only in Canada
and North America but around the world as well."
Montreal's winning bid is the product of close co-operation among the three levels of government and with the
university communities, along with Statistics Canada and the Institut de statistique du Québec. The project
received the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada Economic
Development, Quebec's Ministry of International Relations and the City of Montreal. Montréal International
handled the bid preparations for the future home of the Institute, to be housed, once the appropriate contracts
are in place, within the Université de Montréal.
"The Government of Canada has played a part, and will continue to do so, in positioning the Greater Montreal
area as a destination of choice for international organizations," said Mr. Cauchon. "Our support, both financial
and logistical, has helped encourage several other international organizations to establish their headquarters in
Greater Montreal."
The mandate of UNESCO's Institute of Statistics is to strengthen the capacity of member states to compile and
analyse statistical data in the fields of education, science, culture and communications, and to design training
and development programs. Montreal offers a stimulating intellectual and cultural environment. The City of
Montreal is already home to the International Civil Aviation Organization of the United Nations and numerous
other international organizations and agencies. The arrival on the scene of UNESCO's Institute of Statistics will
enhance Montreal's prestige and the image it projects to the world.
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For further information, media representatives are asked to contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Suzanne Théberge
Office of the Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada
for the Regions of Quebec)
(514) 496-1282
This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci-gc.ca.
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