March 30, 1998 No. 73A

COPPS TO LEAD CANADIAN DELEGATION AT UNESCO

CONFERENCE ON CULTURAL POLICIES FOR DEVELOPMENT

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.

"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."

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.

"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."

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

issues as sustaining social cohesion in a pluralistic society,

cultural production, and the use of communications technologies as a tool for social and economic development.

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

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.

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."

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Jacques Lefebvre

Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage

(819) 997-7788

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department of

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Internet site:

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca