Prime Minister addresses Francophonie Summit

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Mr. Secretary General, dear colleagues,

As the leader of Canada's New Government, I am very pleased to today to pass on the warm regards of my fellow Canadians to the extended family of the Francophonie.

I would like to thank our Romanian hosts, especially President Basescu, for their hospitality.

And I applaud our Secretary General, who leads the International Organization of la Francophonie with such aplomb that he has become the very embodiment of the organization.

And I would also like to recognize the presence of the Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, and the Premier of New Brunswick, Bernard Lord.

To the President, the Secretary General and all participants in the Summit, I first of all want to reaffirm all of Canada's strong commitment toward the international French-speaking community.

As I am sure some of you know the party I lead has its origins in the political parties that created the Canadian Confederation in 1867.

I mention this to highlight that respect for Canada's Francophone character is one of the founding principles of my party and my country.

And today, as Canada's Prime Minister, I plan to make sure that Canada's bilingual and multicultural personality is faithfully reflected on the international scene.

It is not surprising that we were the first to ratify the recent convention on cultural diversity.

In that connection, the Francophonie has played a major role in the adoption of a convention at UNESCO making cultural diversity an essential frame of reference.

And, let me be clear, we will be vigorously pursuing ratification of the Convention on cultural diversity in both our official languages.

And you can also count on my unflagging support for the objectives of the international Francophonie.

That commitment inspires us Canadians through our country's very nature and through our history.

The 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City, which we will be celebrating in 2008, at the same time as I host the next Francophone Summit, in partnership with Premier Charest, reminds us that the French language is the founding language of Canada.

But the survival of French in the Americas for nearly four centuries is no historical accident.

French is still spoken in Canada today because of the courage, tenacity and creativity of generations of Francophones who planted and nourished in the New World the values and hopes they brought with them from the Old World.

As far back as 1609, which was one year after Quebec City was founded, the French writer Marc Lescarbot wrote: "Only those who are enamoured of great undertakings and wish to win honourable renown through extraordinarily noble and equally challenging actions should go to Canada."

Through the years, on every continent, communities of men and women have successfully undertaken, in French, "extraordinarily noble and equally challenging actions."

It is our common heritage and a source of pride. It must also become a shared treasure and a reason for hope.

The Francophonie must also help to reduce the tensions and conflicts that affect us.

The IOF must become a major partner in peace and reconciliation efforts.
That is the key message delivered in St Boniface by Canada's Minister for La Francophonie, Josée Verner, who chaired the conference on conflict resolution and human security.
That was a major step for our organization.

Today, I am inviting you to ratify the St. Boniface declaration and to call on the Secretary General to establish an action program to implement it.

Last week, before the General Assembly of the United Nations, I had the opportunity to talk about Canada's commitments on the international stage.

Those commitments are naturally carried out within the Francophonie.

In Haiti, for example, we took notice ten years ago.

The international community stabilized the military situation in the country but did not help it rebuild its institutions, which later contributed again to its downfall.

We believe that helping countries in crisis must be a long-term commitment.

That is why we are currently working to restore security and stability in Haiti.

One hundred Canadian civilian police officers are now part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. 

Haiti is now the largest recipient of Canadian aid in the Americas, to the tune of more than $500 million over five years.

But the task is enormous, and includes judicial reform, social and economic reconstruction, and above all, national reconciliation and strengthening of democratic institutions.
The IOF is also doing its share in Haiti.

Together, I know we shall succeed. We must succeed.

That country has suffered for too long.
On the frontier of the Francophone space, we have seen the terrible crisis in Darfur, where the desire for peace and the need for stability on the African continent are being tested, despite the remarkable efforts undertaken by the African Union.
Indeed, we are the third largest contributor to the African Union Mission in Sudan, and we have been on the ground for some time.
Canada is helping to combat sexual violence and violence against women.
We want to promote judicial reform, re-establish a framework of security, reduce the arms trade, and strengthen governance institutions and community life.
The Government of Sudan will have to pass the torch from the African Union Mission in Sudan to the United Nations Mission in Sudan, starting in the New Year and with an African commander. 

The Francophonie is also challenged by the tragedy in Sudan because it is a crisis that extends beyond borders. 

Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo need a peaceful neighbour, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo needs to be able to undertake democratic transition without outside interference. 

We all need to act to save a desperate people. 

That is the responsibility to protect. 

The dramatic events that took place in the Middle East have, among other things, given rise to a movement of solidarity within the Francophonie, which I applaud. 

Canada, for its part, has established a humanitarian assistance fund of over $30 million, to effectively meet the needs for assistance, rapid recovery and stabilization in Lebanon. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cyprus, which will soon be officially joining us, for its invaluable assistance in repatriating Canadians from Lebanon.

The international community's commitments towards this country's reconstruction must be met, and the assistance pledged must be delivered as soon as possible.

But let us not forget that the longer-term objective remains a just, sustainable peace for all the countries in the Middle East. 

The Francophonie must do its share to ease tensions in the region. 

I am also pleased to note that a dozen members, associate members or observers of the IOF are present in Afghanistan.

Last week, I welcomed President Karzai to Canada. 

He talked of the war he is waging against terror, intimidation, violence and oppression.

His visit helped to show Canadians how important our mission in Afghanistan is for world peace and security. 

But military measures are not enough.

The future depends equally on the contribution of teachers, engineers, and electoral advisors.

That is why we are providing Afghanistan with some $1 billion in development assistance over 10 years.

The troops who are laying down their lives on the field of honour in Afghanistan are laying down their lives for all of us.

And we remain determined to build a better future for the Afghan people.

That is why I am pleased that education is front and centre at the Summit.

It is a priority of the Francophonie, and for Canada it is a pillar of our international cooperation program.

We all know that new information and communication technologies are revolutionizing our lives and democratizing knowledge through its widespread transfer.

As we celebrate Senghor Year, that statesman, writer and teacher saw the Francophonie as an "ideal that inspires people striving for solidarity of the spirit."

And that solidarity of the spirit is now joined by solidarity of action.

We are witnessing reform to multilateral institutions.

The IOF has undertaken its own reform, toward more effective management.

We encourage the Secretary General in his efforts.

He can count on Canada's support.

Mr President, dear colleagues,

In two years' time, Mayor Boucher, Premier Charest and I will have the pleasure of hosting you in Quebec City on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of its founding.

There are few North American cities that can celebrate such a past.

It is an historic date for all of Canada and for North America. 

On that date, we truly began to become what we are today.

For the founding of Quebec also marks the founding of the Canadian state.

From Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia, Canadians will be celebrating that joyous occasion, and we hope you will join us.

We have a saying that everyone should have two cities at heart:  his own and Quebec City.

You will pardon me from repeating that saying here in the beautiful city of Bucharest.

Thank you.