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<title>COPPS TO LEAD CANADIAN DELEGATION AT UNESCO CONFERENCE ON CULTURAL POLICIES FOR DEVELOPMENT</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2"></font><font face="Univers" size="+2">March 30, 1998 No. 73A</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">COPPS TO LEAD CANADIAN DELEGATION AT UNESCO </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CONFERENCE ON CULTURAL POLICIES FOR DEVELOPMENT</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Canadian Heritage
Minister Sheila Copps will lead the Canadian delegation at the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intergovernmental
Conference on Cultural Policies for Development in Stockholm from March 30 to
April 2. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canada can make an important contribution to international cultural policy by
building and proposing an approach for cultural policies that consider and
incorporate human factors," said Minister Axworthy. "We have recently shown
through the landmines process how big a difference Canada can make to the
international agenda."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This conference brings together government officials and cultural leaders,
artists, academics and media. The conference will develop an action plan for
putting cultural policies on the international agenda. The conference will also
include sessions for non-governmental organizations, as well as forums focussed
on business, youth, and international co-operation. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Cultural sovereignty is a priority for Canada. Culture is not simply an
afterthought; it is central to our being and to our existence as a nation," said
Minister Copps. "We want to raise the profile of cultural policy as an integral
part of international policy debate. UNESCO's conference is a great opportunity
to build closer links with key international players to ensure that the cultural
dimension is fully integrated into our discussions on domestic and international
trade and commerce."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Minister Copps will chair a session entitled "A Commitment to Pluralism," a
component of one of the main themes, "The Challenges of Cultural Diversity." The
panel will address such </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">issues as sustaining social cohesion in a pluralistic society, </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">cultural production, and the use of communications technologies as a tool for
social and economic development.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">During her visit to Stockholm, Ms. Copps will meet with Mr. Claes Andersson,
Finnish Minister of Culture, to sign a Canada-Finland Film and Television Co-Production Agreement. She will then go to Oslo to meet with Ms. Anne Enger
Lahnstein, Norwegian Minister of Cultural Affairs, to sign the Canada-Norway
Audiovisual </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Co-production Agreement. Ms. Copps will also meet with Chris Smith, the British
Secretary of State for National Heritage, in Birmingham, to exchange views on
international cultural policies and to reinforce cultural links with the United
Kingdom. </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Dr. Hedy Fry, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and the Status of Women,
will be alternate Head of the Canadian delegation, and a panelist in a session
entitled "Culture for Children and Young People." </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier"> </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Jacques Lefebvre</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(819) 997-7788</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department of </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Foreign Affairs and International Trade Internet site: </font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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