May 31, 2008
No. 131
The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, announced today that the Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Secretary of State for Sport, will represent Canada at the 38th regular session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly, which will take place in Medellín, Colombia, from June 1 to 3, 2008.
"Canada is committed to strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of the OAS in support of the goals of democracy, prosperity, security, respect for human rights, and the rule of law in the Americas," said Minister Emerson. "The General Assembly provides an opportunity for Canada to underscore its commitment to the success of our region."
The OAS is the primary political forum of the Americas. Canada plays an active and constructive role in the Organization and is its second-largest financial contributor.
The theme for this year's General Assembly is Youth and Democratic Values.
"This is an important topic for Canada and all OAS member states," said Secretary of State Guergis. "The OAS has a critical role to play in promoting a democratic culture and strengthening democratic governance in the hemisphere. I look forward to taking part in those discussions."
Satellite transmission of the proceedings will be available on the OAS website, www.oas.org.
For more information on Canada and the OAS, visit the following website:
http://geo.international.gc.ca/cip-pic/geo/lac-alc-en.aspx.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Blair MacLean
Director of Communications and Parliamentary Affairs
Office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade and
Secretary of State for Sport
613-992-4224
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
www.international.gc.ca/index.aspx
