NEWS RELEASES
DENIS PARADIS ANNOUNCES $25,000 GRANT TO RICHELIEU INTERNATIONAL TO PROMOTE LA FRANCOPHONIE
October 30, 2002 (6:50 p.m. EST) No. 132
DENIS PARADIS ANNOUNCES $25,000 GRANT TO RICHELIEU INTERNATIONAL TO
PROMOTE LA FRANCOPHONIE
Denis Paradis, Secretary of State for Latin America, Africa and La Francophonie, announced yesterday in Quebec City a
$25,000 grant to Richelieu International to finance activities to promote La Francophonie.
Secretary of State Paradis made the announcement during an address on La Francophonie, Africa and Latin America
delivered to organizations from the Quebec City region working in the area of La Francophonie. He also took advantage of
the interest of his audience in international Francophonie matters to briefly report on the Beirut Summit and the major gains
Canada made during this international conference.
"To begin with, we are very pleased about the decision to implement the Bamako Declaration on democracy, good
governance and human rights," said the Secretary of State. "We also applaud the consensus that was reached, thanks to
Canada's leadership, on an international convention on cultural diversity that could be developed through UNESCO. The
purpose of the convention will be to enshrine the rights of states to maintain, set and develop policies supporting cultural
diversity. Finally, Canada succeeded in extracting a commitment from the Heads of State and Government of La
Francophonie to foster economic and social development in Africa, within the framework of the New Partnership for
Africa's Development. I would like to reiterate Canada's determination to support the countries of Africa in this important
process."
Secretary of State Paradis closed his address by stressing the vitality of La Francophonie and the determination of the 56
member states and governments to work together on both the political and economic fronts to build a global society based
on dialogue and harmony among cultures.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the December 2001 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing
fiscal framework.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Isabelle Mignault
Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) (Francophonie)
(613) 995-1852
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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