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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial"><strong>February 8, 2002 No. 24</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Denis Paradis, Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) (Francophonie), will visit Paris, France, and
Brussels, Belgium, from February 11 to 14, as the official representative of the Government of Canada to La
Francophonie.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">During this visit, which is taking place at the beginning of his term of office, Mr. Paradis will hold discussions
with his principal counterparts in the international Francophonie. In Paris, he will meet the Secretary-General of
the International Organization of the Francophonie, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the chief executive of the
Intergovernmental Agency of the Francophonie, Roger Dehaybe, and the French Minister Delegate for
Cooperation and the Francophonie, Charles Josselin. Mr. Paradis will end the first part of his visit by
participating in the launch of Zacharias Kunut's <em>Atanarjuat--The Fast Runner</em>, which is based on an Inuit legend
and is Canada's first feature-length fiction film written, produced, directed and acted in Inuktitut.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In Brussels, the Secretary of State will hold talks with the Minister-President of the Government of the French
Community of Belgium, Hervé Hasquin, and Annemie Neyts, Minister Associate to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information on La Francophonie, visit the Department's Web site at:</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221124518/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreignp/francophonie/menu-e.htm"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreignp/francophonie/menu-e.htm</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, please contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Geneviève Tremblay</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa) (Francophonie)</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 944-3403</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221124518/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
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