July 30, 2005 (9:10 a.m. EDT)

No. 137

CANADA CALLS FOR MOBILIZATION OF

LA FRANCOPHONIE TO HELP NIGER

Jacques Saada, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, yesterday called for the Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie, Abdou Diouf, to mobilize members of La Francophonie and the international community to help Niger, a country facing a serious humanitarian crisis.

“It is equally important to pay particular attention to the needs of the other countries in the Sahel, which are also suffering from drought and invasions of desert locusts,” wrote the Minister in a letter to Mr. Diouf.

Mr. Saada indicated that Canada is prepared to contribute to this increased effort, and referred to the announcement made yesterday by his colleague from the Canadian International Development Agency, Minister of International Cooperation Aileen Carroll, that Canada will provide an additional $1 million to the World Food Program to help fight hunger in Niger. 

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Daniel Dezainde

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie

(613) 944-1291

(514) 496-1282

Media Relations Office 

Foreign Affairs Canada

(613) 995-1874

http://www.international.gc.ca