March 20, 2004No. 44Denis Coderre, President of the Queen's Privy Council of Canada and Ministerresponsible for La Francophonie, and Aileen Carroll, Minister for InternationalCooperation, today marked the Journée internationale de la Francophonie,commemorating the 34th anniversary of the founding of La Francophonie."Faced with the challenges of globalization, La Francophonie has an increasinglyimportant role to play, both politically and economically," said Mr. Coderre. "It is alsovital that the broad range of cultures within this organization and the French languagethey have in common help make La Francophonie a veritable showcase of culturaldiversity.""On the eve of the next Francophonie Summit, which will take place in November inOuagadougou, Burkina Faso, we must intensify our efforts to transformLa Francophonie into a community that supports sustainable development," saidMinister Carroll.Canada also reiterated its desire to work closely with Abdou Diouf, Secretary-Generalof the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), to promote goodgovernance, democracy and human rights throughout La Francophonie, particularly inHaiti, given the current crisis.As host country of the official celebrations for the 2004 Journée internationale dela Francophonie, Canada invited the OIF Secretary-General to participate in thefestivities in Montreal. The events this year centred on the theme "Create, Think andInform: Networks and Exchanges within Francophone North America."Canada is a founding member of La Francophonie, an organization established inNiamey, Niger, in March 1970 that today boasts 56 member states and participatinggovernments from around the world.For more information on La Francophonie, visit the Department of Foreign Affairs andInternational Trade Web site at http://www.canada-francophonie.gc.ca and theCanadian International Development Agency Web site at http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/francophonie.- 30 -For further information, media representatives may contact:Sarah BainOffice of the Minister responsible for La Francophonie(613) 943-1838Media Relations OfficeDepartment of Foreign Affairs and International Trade(613) 995-1874http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.caAndrew GrahamDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister for International Cooperation(819) 953-3160Media Relations OfficeCanadian International Development Agency(819) 953-6534info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
