September 17, 2004
Ottawa, Ontario

NEWS RELEASE

Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that the President of Romania, Ion Iliescu, will visit Canada on September 17 and 18, 2004.

"Canada and Romania enjoy a strong economic relationship, especially in the energy and telecommunications sectors," said the Prime Minister. "We are committed to expanding our cooperation and we congratulate Romania on its successful institutional and economic reforms."

The Prime Minister will meet with the President in Knowlton, Quebec, where they are expected to discuss a number of bilateral issues such as Canada's involvement in the Cernavoda nuclear project. The leaders will also discuss global matters including Sudan/Darfur, Iraq and Afghanistan in the context of Romania's current role on the United Nations Security Council, as well as other points of common interest such as La Francophonie.

President Iliescu's visit marks the 85th anniversary of Canada-Romania consular relations. A series of celebrations are scheduled to take place in Montreal on this occasion, including the inauguration on September 18 of the Place de la Roumanie, where a statue of Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu will be unveiled. President Iliescu will be accompanied by Minister of Culture and Religious Affairs Razvan Theodorescu and Secretary of State for Global Affairs Georgi Ciamba.



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