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<title>MR. PARADIS - ADDRESS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AGENCE UNIVERSITAIRE DE LA FRANCOPHONIE - MONTREAL, QUEBEC</title>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><u>CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY</u></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">THE HONOURABLE DENIS PARADIS,</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">SECRETARY OF STATE </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">(LATIN AMERICA AND AFRICA) (FRANCOPHONIE),</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">ON THE OCCASION OF THE</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1">40TH </font><font size="+1"><strong>ANNIVERSARY OF THE AGENCE UNIVERSITAIRE OF</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>LA FRANCOPHONIE</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>MONTREAL, Quebec</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>April 23, 2002</strong></font></p>
<p>To begin, I personally, and on behalf of the Honourable Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada, would like to express my
sincerest congratulations to the Agence universitaire of La Francophonie for 40 years of productive labour crowned with
success: well done!</p>
<p>Celebrating at the University of Montreal means celebrating at the core of Canada's centre for francophone higher
education and research, in Montreal, the metropolis of La Francophonie in Canada, where the Agence universitaire of
La Francophonie has made its headquarters.</p>
<p>Canada is proud to have been a part, from its inception, of an organization destined to become one of the main levers of
cooperation in higher education and research, an instrument capable of transforming this creative energy and of extending
francophone culture as one of the richest and most innovative of all.</p>
<p>Clearly, to weave a network of millions of francophone students, teachers and researchers the world over was no small
challenge. Forty years later, it is evident that not only has the Agence universitaire of La Francophonie succeeded, but it has
transformed this challenge into an incredible asset--for it, and for all francophone communities.</p>
<p>Moreover, it is very important that the intensity and richness of its community life be maintained, as this is what makes it so
dynamic; only then can it continue to be representative of the universities.</p>
<p>Our Canadian Francophonie is alive and well because year after year we make considerable efforts to enable more than
seven million Canadians to live and develop in French from sea to sea, and to enable slightly over 2.6 million students to
learn French as a second language.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, we all agree on the necessity of combining our efforts to preserve this cultural diversity, which, more than
ever, is the envy of the world.</p>
<p>More than once, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Secretary General of La Francophonie, has rightly affirmed that "the languages
sharing the francophone space are so many natural allies, so many ramparts against the threat of homogenization." [trans]</p>
<p>I also want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the Government of Quebec, which has always been willing to
accompany the Canadian government in its efforts to see that cultural diversity is promoted and safeguarded. And I can tell
you that Canada will work with its partners in La Francophonie to ensure that the texts emerging from the Beirut Summit
reflect our common commitment to cultural diversity.</p>
<p>So, when we talk about natural allies of the francophone fact, I think of the mandate given to me by the Prime Minister, in
addition to my responsibilities as Secretary of State for La Francophonie: </p>
<ul>
<li>Latin America, with which we share a common linguistic origin and vitality, a tradition of civil law--I myself am a
lawyer at heart and by training--and numerous cultural traits; and</li>
<li>Africa, which will contain 52 percent of the world's francophones within five years, according to the International
Organization of La Francophonie.</li>
</ul>
<p>I have just in fact returned from a tour of Africa, leading up to the Kananaskis G8 Summit, with the Prime Minister.</p>
<p>On the strength of our enviable reputation across the African continent--founded on the fact that Canada has been
developing programs of cooperation there for more than 30 years--the Prime Minister and I went to promote the New
Partnership for Africa's Development.</p>
<p>This development plan, devised by the Africans themselves, is a bold plan, capable of supporting the governments on the
continent desirous of working toward establishing sound democracies:</p>
<p>• democracies established on principles as fundamental as good governance and respect for human rights;</p>
<p>• democracies conscious of the need for solid health and education networks; and</p>
<p>• democracies both equitable and able to compete on a world scale.</p>
<p>This development plan coincides fully with the spirit of the Bamako Declaration and is a convincing example of the
essential need for La Francophonie to take its rightful place on the world scene.</p>
<p>And the Government of Canada believes that the Agence has a major role to play in the positioning of La Francophonie
internationally.</p>
<p>No other institution can boast of being able to take advantage of this incredible potential for deliberation and dissemination
of ideas, in French, by hundreds of universities all over the world.</p>
<p>In its 40 years of existence, the Agence universitaire of La Francophonie has modernized and admirably fulfilled its
mandate, showing itself to be an essential player and operator in La Francophonie, multilaterally and institutionally. Canada
extends its congratulations.</p>
<p>I am convinced that the great issues of the day, such as that of African development launched by Prime Minister Chrétien,
will give the Agence many opportunities to distinguish itself and thus contribute to the extension of La Francophonie and of
the values of democracy and diversity defended by it.</p>
<p>Long live the Agence universitaire of La Francophonie!</p>
<p>Long live La Francophonie!</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
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