NEWS RELEASES
MANLEY ANNOUNCES CONTINUED FUNDING FOR REGIONAL HUMAN SECURITY CENTRE AT OFFICIAL INAUGURATION
May 10, 2001 (9:45 a.m. EDT) No. 57
MANLEY ANNOUNCES CONTINUED FUNDING FOR REGIONAL
HUMAN SECURITY CENTRE AT OFFICIAL INAUGURATION
John Manley, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Abdul Ilah Khatib, Foreign Minister of Jordan,
today participated in a plaque-unveiling ceremony at the Regional Human Security Centre
(RHSC) in Amman, Jordan, marking the official inauguration of the facility. Mr. Manley also
signed a letter of intent to provide the Centre with $673 000 in funding over the next three years
which, along with disbursements made since last June, brings Canada's total involvement in the
initiative to $800 000. The Minister is currently on a tour of the Middle East that includes stops
in Egypt, Gaza City, Jordan and Israel. In Petra, Jordan, Mr. Manley will also participate in a
Human Security Network (HSN) Ministerial Meeting taking place May 11 and 12.
Established through an agreement between Canada and Jordan during King Abdullah's visit to
Ottawa in September 2000, the RHSC was created to provide a focal point for regional dialogue
and co-operation on human security issues. The Centre, which is housed in the Jordan Institute of
Diplomacy, will seek practical solutions to threats against human security and enhance awareness
of human security issues. It will accomplish this by organizing seminars, workshops and follow-up activities on related topics, by creating a regional network linking academics, NGOs and
public figures, and by sending RHSC representatives throughout the region to increase awareness
of, and garner support for, its agenda.
"It is our hope that the Centre will become a regional hub for promoting human security in the
Middle East," said Mr. Manley. "This joint initiative is yet another example of the close co-operation between Canada and Jordan on human security issues."
The Minister also noted that he looked forward to working with Foreign Minister Khatib and
other Human Security Network representatives at the forthcoming Ministerial Meeting in Petra,
Jordan, where participants will focus on peace support operations, the link between human
security and human development, and children and human security. Mr. Manley will use the
occasion to launch www.humansecuritynetwork.org, a Web site that will provide an electronic
forum for discussing human security issues and promoting HSN initiatives.
Funding for today's announcement was provided for in the February 2000 federal budget and is
therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sanjeev Chowdhury
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
|
