Address by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on the Occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the IXth Summit of La Francophonie

October 18, 2002
Beirut, Lebanon

First of all, I would like to thank the Lebanese authorities for their excellent organization and warm welcome.

More than three years have passed since Premier Lord of New Brunswick and I had the honour of welcoming you to Moncton. The Moncton Summit was a defining moment for Canada's Francophonie, showcasing the rich culture and vitality of Acadians and Francophones from all of Canada. We were delighted to welcome you to Canada and share with you the hopes and aspirations of young people throughout the world.

The Heads of State and Government were eager to show their keen interest in the Summit's youth theme and established a key role for young people in the multilateral cooperation programs that grew out of the Moncton Summit.

Thanks to the cooperation of all member countries of La Francophonie, the commitments made in Moncton have been carried out.

The three conferences outlined in the Moncton action plan have yielded impressive results.

The Luxembourg Conference enabled us to advance the issue of women, by actively involving them in development and the exercise of power.

In Bamako, La Francophonie developed a Code of Conduct authorizing it to respond to serious human rights violations and situations where democracies are in crisis. In doing so, the Organization strengthened its political role considerably.

Respect for democracy and good governance are essential to development and prosperity. Of course, there remain deficiencies in terms of good governance and domestic conflicts, and there have been serious incidents in some countries.

On June 27, 2002, in Kananaskis, members of the G8 adopted the Action Plan for Africa, their first response to the New Partnership for Africa's Development, NEPAD. I am pleased that African leaders, some of whom are here today, were able to participate in our work.

One of my objectives at this Summit will be to promote real synergy between NEPAD, the G8 Action Plan for Africa and La Francophonie's cooperation and development programs.

All of the countries of Francophone Africa must meet the conditions established by the African leaders themselves and contained in NEPAD. Doing so will entitle them to a portion of the aid that the G8 has earmarked for Africa.

Canada is determined to assist Francophone African countries in this undertaking.

We are here today in Beirut, the capital of a country that want to live in peace. A peace which -- we truly hope -- will eventually extend to the rest of the region.

The Dialogue of Cultures, the theme so aptly chosen by our Lebanese hosts, is a daily reality in Canada and in La Francophonie, where a common language unites us in the context of ou different traditions. Cross-cultural dialogue is a reality that extends well beyond La Francophonie.

That is why we are delighted that a major declaration on cultural diversity was adopted in Cotonou in June 2001. The declaration explicitly recognizes the role of cultural diversity in promoting a culture of peace and in democratizing international relations.

La Francophonie also recognizes the principle underlying the need for an international instrument. Such an instrument will confirm the legitimacy of States to preserve and develop cultural policies designed to promote diversity.

We can all be very proud that La Francophonie is the first international organization to endorse this principle.

I am also very proud of Canada's leadership in the area of cultural diversity. In fact, the International Network on Cultural Policy was created in Ottawa in 1998 and now includes nearly 50 countries, some twenty of which are members of La Francophonie. Thanks to the discussions led by this network, many countries have begun to recognize the importance of promoting cultural diversity and protecting the forums and means we use to express ourselves.

In addition, under Canada's leadership, and with contributions from about fifteen countries, the first draft of an international legal instrument on cultural diversity was developed by the Ministers of Culture at a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, just two days ago. My colleague, Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, has just returned from that meeting.

This instrument is designed to give us the leeway we need to preserve and develop cultural policies within the context of trade liberalization. It will be a concrete tool enabling us to protect our respective cultures so that they can contribute to the richness of humanity.

Canada is looking for an instrument that establishes clear ground rules. These rules must enable each country to preserve its cultural policies while respecting the rules that govern the world trading system and that grant access to export markets for cultural goods and services. I am pleased that Canada and France have strengthened their partnership with a view to promoting and achieving this objective. We are very interested in the idea put forth by the President of France to house this instrument in UNESCO.

To move ahead, we must broaden our discussions to include other international organizations, such as the Commonwealth and the Organization of American States. In this regard, I am delighted that Canada was invited in Cape Town by the International Network on Cultural Policy to continue to lead the deliberations on the international legal instrument.

Allowing women, men and children from all countries to retain, protect and promote their language and their culture is a truly noble objective.

As members of La Francophonie - who share the use of the French language within different cultures and traditions - we have a key role to play in achieving this objective.

I am convinced that our discussions on these issues over the next few days will be most enriching.

Dear colleagues and friends, look at the progress we have made since the Cotonou Summit.

It was in Cotonou that the decision was made enhance the political role of La Francophonie and to create the position of Secretary General. Two years later, in Hanoi, Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali was elected Secretary General.

Since his election, Mr. Boutros-Boutros-Ghali has stepped up efforts in the areas of peace, human rights and democracy. I want offer special congratulations to the Secretary General for his leading role in the fight to eliminate landmines. Canada believes that the Ottawa Convention remains the best tool for banning the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of landmines.

I urge countries that have not yet signed the Convention to do so as soon as possible.

Our Secretary General has turned La Francophonie into a highly visible and credible political organization with a growing international presence. I want to thank and congratulate the Secretary General for his many accomplishments at the head of La Francophonie.

Mr. President, thank you for your attention, and I wish everyone a very productive Summit.

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