March 26, 2008
No. 63
The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, the Honourable Peter Van Loan, will lead an international conference, "How the International Community can support UN efforts in Burma/Myanmar," on March 27, 2008, in Québec City. The conference is organized by Laval University in cooperation with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
"I am very pleased that this conference is taking place. Six months have passed since the violent crackdown on the peaceful protests in Burma, and it is essential that the international community maintain the pressure for democratic reform in that country," said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs. "Canada is doing its part in this effort. Last December, under our government, Canada imposed the strongest economic sanctions in the world against Burma in order to respond to the gravity of the situation in that country."
The Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, introduced a motion in the House of Commons on October 17, 2007, to confer the title "honorary Canadian citizen" on Burmese Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Minister Bernier has been working with Minister Van Loan to bring this conference to fruition. An opportunity to generate new ideas, the conference will bring together some of the world's foremost experts to explore additional ways of supporting the United Nations' efforts in that country. Dr. Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Myanmar, who has recently returned from Burma, will participate in the conference.
"I am pleased to represent the Government of Canada at this important conference," said Minister Van Loan. "It is an excellent opportunity to generate new ideas about how Canada can work with others to help bring freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law to Burma."
The conference is funded by the Glyn Berry Program for Peace and Security of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. The Glyn Berry Program, named after the Canadian diplomat killed in Afghanistan in 2006, supports the development of Canadian and international policies, laws and institutions that embed core human security objectives of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law into international peace and security efforts.
- 30 -
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
www.international.gc.ca/index.aspx
