NEWS RELEASES

January 10, 2005 (1:50 p.m. EST)
No. 3

MINISTER SAADA TO PARTICIPATE IN
CANADA-TUNISIA BILATERAL COMMISSION

Jacques Saada, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, today announced that he will participate in the Canada-Tunisia Bilateral Commission on January 11 and 12, 2005, in Tunis.

Mr. Saada will head a Canadian delegation composed of representatives from government, industry, business and the cultural and education sectors. Among the scheduled events on this mission’s program is a meeting between Minister Saada and Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdelbaki Hermassi.

“The Bilateral Commission will enable us to pursue political dialogue on topics of mutual interest, as well as in the areas of business, cooperation and culture,” stated Minister Saada. “Our relationship with Tunisia has always been warm, cordial and productive. The Commission will enable us to build on our experience and identify the directions we would like to take in the future.”

The Canada-Tunisia Commission, which was first held in 1964, brings together various Canadian and Tunisian stakeholders on a periodic basis to take stock of our bilateral relationship and explore new avenues of cooperation in both the commercial and political arenas. The Bilateral Commission was last held in Ottawa in 2002.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Daniel Dezainde
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie
(613) 994-1291
(514) 496-1282

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca