May 15, 1998 No. 124

SIGNING OF A FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

CONCERNING THE MONCTON SUMMIT

Canada's Minister for International Co-operation and Minister responsible for la Francophonie Diane Marleau, with New Brunswick's Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Thériault, and Sylvain Simard, Quebec's Minister for International Relations with Responsibility for la Francophonie, today signed in Moncton a memorandum of understanding on the terms and conditions for organizing the Eighth Francophone Summit scheduled for Moncton in September 1999.

The agreement, which sets out the financial and administrative responsibilities of the three signing governments, was initialled during a ceremony hosted by New Brunswick Premier Camille Thériault that inaugurated the joint Secretariat for the Summit's organization.

"We have just laid the cornerstone in a structure that will give confidence to la Francophonie in Canada and will give major impetus to Francophone co-operation internationally," said Mrs. Marleau. "I am convinced that the Moncton Summit will be one of the most productive and most worthwhile ever."

"The Moncton Summit provides New Brunswick and its Acadian community with a unique opportunity to present our rich culture to the entire world," said Premier Thériault. "My government will co-operate with our federal and Quebec partners to make this summit a successful event that we will proudly remember forever."

"We are very proud and very pleased to be working with our partners in New Brunswick and Canada to organize and fund the Moncton Summit," said Minister Simard. "Needless to say, Quebec will contribute as much as it can to the success of the event, not only in terms of its commitments to la Francophonie worldwide, but also by virtue of the historical ties between Quebec and the Acadians and the obligation of solidarity that Quebec feels toward them."

The Secretariat for the Summit's organization will be led by Fernand Landry, assisted by six sectoral directors seconded from the federal and provincial public services and from the private sector.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

André Doren

Office of the Minister for International Co-operation and Minister responsible for la Francophonie

Tel.: (819) 997-6919

Fax: (819) 953-2903

Patrick Lacroix

Office of the Premier of New Brunswick

Tel.: (506) 453-2144

Fax: (506) 453-7407

Daniel Amar

Quebec Ministry of International Relations

Tel.: (418) 649-2319

Fax: (418) 643-4804

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca