<html>
<head>
<meta name="Generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 8">
<title>MR. GRAHAM - ADDRESS AT THE CERVANTINO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - GUANAJUATO, MEXICO</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" link="#0000ff" vlink="#551a8b" alink="#ff0000" bgcolor="#c0c0c0">
<p><font size="+1"><strong><u>CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY</u></strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>THE HONOURABLE BILL GRAHAM,</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>AT THE CERVANTINO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>GUANAJUATO, Mexico</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>October 25, 2002</strong></font></p>
<p>I am very pleased to be back in Mexico as I have a close personal relationship with your country. I had the opportunity of
working very closely with my friends and colleagues in the Mexican Congress in 2000 on the successful launch of the
Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas [FIPA], and just over two years ago I visited your country for the FIPA
Executive Committee meeting. This last February, while on Spanish-language training in Cuernavaca, I received the call
from the Prime Minister appointing me Foreign Minister. One week later, the first Foreign Minister whom I received in
Ottawa in my new capacity was my colleague Secretary Jorge Castañeda. I have subsequently visited Mexico several times
and worked frequently with my Mexican counterpart. This is indeed a relationship like no other. </p>
<p>I am very pleased that it is the Cervantino Festival, and the celebration of Canadian arts and culture, that brings us to
Guanajuato on this occasion. On this, its 30th anniversary, Cervantino stands as one of Latin America's most prestigious
international arts festivals. We are especially pleased that, in the second year in which the arts and culture of another
country have been highlighted, you should choose to honour Canada with your tribute.</p>
<p>Canada and Mexico enjoy a uniquely multifaceted relationship--first, as we all know, as North American partners bound
by our trade and investment ties. We also share the common experience of being the neighbours of the United States, with
the opportunities and challenges that such proximity presents. </p>
<p>The dynamism between our two countries extends far beyond trade and investment. Tourism in both directions is
substantial and continues to increase. Our academic institutions, with the encouragement of our governments, have
pioneered an impressive level of cooperation involving academic exchanges, the increasing two-way flow of students,
shared research projects and the joint development of course materials for use in university classrooms in both countries. At
the University of Mexico for instance, I was pleased to learn that we will soon be inaugurating the Margaret
Atwood/Gabrielle Roy Canadian Chair of Cultural Studies.</p>
<p>Fresh and innovative cultural programs are also now taking hold. Festivals like this illustrate to Canadians the degree to
which Mexico is a highly developed, sophisticated society that values its own cultures and the cultures of others and
realizes the importance of creating an environment where culture can flourish. This was certainly brought home to me on
my last trip here, whether we were in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Museo Nacional de Antropologia in Mexico City or in
the highly personal Museo de Rufino Tamayo in Oaxaca. </p>
<p>I am happy to say that this is part of a trend, whereby more governments are acknowledging the importance of examining
and celebrating the expression of their cultures. At the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April 2001, 34 leaders
recognized that cultural diversity is one of the treasures of this great hemisphere, and that we must preserve and share it.</p>
<p>For our part, in Canada, we too have recognized the importance of our own cultural identity. Indeed, the projection of
Canadian culture and values is one of the three fundamental pillars of our foreign policy, along with enhancing our security
and extending our prosperity.</p>
<p>Our Canadian culture is a reflection of our values, and most importantly our diversity. Canada is a country that was founded
on cultural diversity. The initial European explorers forged links with the Aboriginal nations. With each wave of
immigration, Canada grew stronger, and today our cultural diversity is a hallmark of our national identity.</p>
<p>Canada is one of the world's first officially multicultural country. It is the home of citizens of more that 150 ethnic
backgrounds. This is a living reality: in the riding of Toronto Centre, which I represent as a member of the Canadian
Parliament, the community of St. James Town has more than 57 different cultural communities, each contributing its voice
and culture to the spirit of the city. In fact, at Toronto's city hall, citizens can get information in 101 languages, a situation
replicated in other urban centres as well.</p>
<p>In our globalized world, such cultural diversity provides us with a means of deepening contacts and establishing networks
with cultural, academic and professional communities around the world. However, diversity can be difficult to maintain in
the face of globalization. With new technologies comes an increasing risk of cultural uniformity. </p>
<p>Canadians are open to the best the world has to offer. But Canadians also want to maintain access to their own cultural
works and the means to continue creating them. In this regard, we believe that government has the responsibility of
reserving a place for the works of its citizens. We have developed policies and mechanisms that have enabled us to
establish a creative environment in Canada for the artist's voice to flourish and be heard.</p>
<p>The support of agencies such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation or the Canada Council for the Arts have created a
healthy and vital artistic community. And policies of the federal government pertaining to Canadian book and magazine
publishing, film and television production, distribution and ownership of the airwaves and the like, have demonstrated that
we want Canadians to have choices that allow them to see themselves--to read about, listen to or view their own stories.</p>
<p>While Canada and Mexico have their own national approaches, it is important that we work together at the international
level to achieve what I believe is a common objective to promote and preserve diversity of cultural expression.</p>
<p>We have worked together in UNESCO, at the Summit of the Americas and in the Organization of American States [OAS]
to gain recognition for the importance of cultural diversity. In this context, we define cultural diversity as remaining open to
the many diverse cultural influences and products that the world has to offer, while, at the same time, ensuring that a
country's own voices can be heard.</p>
<p>To this end and as a result of a Canadian initiative, ministers of culture have met for a number of years, in Canada and in
Mexico, to examine how countries can participate in the global economy while promoting their own forms of expression.</p>
<p>Last week, they met in South Africa to further discuss the development of a New International Instrument on Cultural
Diversity, which would be based on four principles:</p>
<p>• first, that our cultural policies must allow for both an openness toward other cultures and the promotion of the diversity
of each nation's cultural expressions;</p>
<p>• second, that governments have a legitimate role to play in preserving and promoting cultural diversity;</p>
<p>• third, that cultural goods and services have a significance and a role far greater than as mere consumer products; and</p>
<p>• fourth, that cultural diversity contributes to social and economic prosperity, human development and security.</p>
<p>Subsequent to the culture ministers meeting in South Africa, Francophonie leaders met in Beirut. Both meetings saw
announcements of firm support for an instrument or convention on cultural diversity under the auspices of UNESCO. The
challenge is now to build on the momentum of these recent events to broaden the support even further. Of course, as we
examine together how to develop this new instrument, we will need to take into consideration international trade rules,
which have done so much to improve the lives of our citizens. </p>
<p>Cultural expression is essential both to encourage the social cohesion of a nation and to define for its citizens their values
and very identity. The voice of the artist also represents one of the most effective ways of establishing a powerful and
compelling image of a country internationally. </p>
<p>Canada enjoys a positive "clean and natural" image abroad, but it is often viewed by foreign countries in a simplistic way.
Certainly, it does not come close to reflecting the dynamic multicultural, bilingual, technologically advanced, innovative
and truly sophisticated country that Canada has become. </p>
<p>In contemplating how to modernize this perception, we have discovered that it is often through the work of our artists that
the Canadian voice is most effectively and compellingly heard on the international stage. Artists open the doors and foster
the dialogue that overcomes prejudice, dispels hatred and intolerance, and builds bridges of trust, respect and true
friendship between and among peoples of the world.</p>
<p>The voice of the artist is essential in determining how a country projects itself internationally; a country gains power to
influence through culture, ideas and example.</p>
<p>Atom Egoyan, the internationally renowned Canadian filmmaker of Armenian descent, in commenting on the events of
September 11, said, "This is a time for words...Let's not look at images of this event for awhile. Let's reactivate our
imaginations with a new vocabulary."</p>
<p>And who better, in my view, to provide us with the vocabulary we are seeking, than the artist?</p>
<p>It is in this context that I am proud to play my small part and the part of the Canadian government in bringing to Mexico the
full flavour of the diversity of Canadian cultural expression through our contribution to this Cervantino Festival. The talent
represented here exemplifies some of the finest of Canadian artistry. </p>
<p>From the Province of Quebec, we have the theatre company Les Deux Mondes with its outstanding production of <em>Memoire
Vive</em> and the daring and innovative acrobatic theatre troupe Les gens d'R.</p>
<p>Francophone culture from Atlantic Canada is represented by the New Brunswick-based fiddlers Grand Dérangement, who
bring to life aspects of our rich and historic Acadian culture.</p>
<p>Also from Atlantic Canada, we have a celebration of traditional Celtic culture through the performance of Sláinte Mhath.</p>
<p>Of course, our Aboriginal artists are also showcased at Cervantino with the music of both Kanenhi:io and the Six Nations
Women Singers.</p>
<p>We have focused our visual arts presentations on outstanding creative work from Inuit artists of the far north. <em>Transitions</em> is
a multifaceted exhibition of paintings, sculpture, drawings and photographs that seeks to challenge the general public's
expectations of Inuit art, and to "shift the landscape" of Canadian Aboriginal art. Another exhibit, <em>Culture On Cloth: Inuit
Wall Hangings</em>, is a collection of exquisite tapestries from the well-known artists' colony at Baker Lake.</p>
<p>In classical performance, we present the Gryphon Trio from Toronto and Ballet British Columbia from Vancouver, with its
beautiful production of <em>The Faerie Queen</em>.</p>
<p>This is only a sampling of the Canadian artists and companies being presented at Cervantino this year, and they show not
only the high level of artistic achievement in Canada, but also the strength of our cultural diversity.</p>
<p>The distinguished writers on this panel will speak from their perspectives, but I do believe that the promotion of Canadian
creative work--be it literature, or the performing or visual arts--is a potent and important way to share our experience as a
country that values democracy, freedom of expression, tolerance, respect for human rights and diversity. </p>
<p>Just last month, in commenting on the fact that three of the six finalists for the Booker Prize this year were Canadian
writers, <em>The Times of London</em> attributed this phenomenon largely to our encouragement of cultural diversity. To quote, </p>
<p>"In the past 30 years (Canada) has produced a crop of talent out of all proportion to its population size...The causes of any
nation's literary vitality are never easy to discern...It may be that Canada's position as a modern multicultural nation has
played a part in its ability to foster new writing of distinction."</p>
<p>I'm proud to say that a Canadian, Yann Martel, won this prestigious award. Yann, I might add, is a francophone who wrote
this prize-winning work in English.</p>
<p>Through support given to Canadian artists internationally, our foreign policy becomes a true reflection of Canada's values. I
thank the Cervantino organizers for having honoured Canada in this way, for providing us with a forum to express what it is
that makes us Canadian and for allowing us to draw closer to Mexico with whom we share an increasingly common space
in the Americas.</p>
<p>Thank you. </p>
</body>
</html>
