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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">August 26, 2005 <i>(10:30 a.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 155</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">ST. BONIFACE TO HOST LA FRANCOPHONIE MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE IN SPRING 2006</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Jacques Saada, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the
Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, today announced
that St. Boniface, Manitoba, will host a La Francophonie ministerial conference in the
spring of 2006 on conflict prevention and human security. Mr. Saada made the
announcement alongside Treasury Board President Reg Alcock and St. Boniface MP
Raymond Simard. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“As Canadians, we must act beyond our borders to protect and promote our values and
interests, and actively support peoples seeking freedom, stability, democracy and,
above all, a better life,” said Mr. Saada. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The conference, which will bring together foreign affairs ministers of La Francophonie,
confirms La Francophonie’s commitment to implementing and developing democracy,
preventing conflicts and supporting human rights and the rule of law. The objectives of
the meeting are to promote La Francophonie’s conflict-prevention activities and to
contribute to the human security debate. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Proposed by Prime Minister Paul Martin at the Francophonie Summit held in Burkina
Faso in November 2004, this conference is in keeping with the identification in<i>
Canada’s International Policy Statement</i> of La Francophonie as one of the multilateral
organizations in which Canada intends to advance its international human security
agenda.</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Founded in 1970, the International Organization of La Francophonie today has
49 member states and participating governments, four associate states and 10
observer states. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">- 30 -</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Daniel Dezainde<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions
of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie<br>
(613) 944-1291<br>
(514) 496-1282</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221012528/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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