News Release

Positive Outcome in Oaxaca--Canada to House Liaison Office of the International Network on Cultural Policy

Ottawa, September 21, 1999 - - Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps is pleased with the Canadian delegation's contribution during the second meeting of the International Network on Cultural Policy held in Oaxaca, Mexico on September 20 and 21. Minister Copps led the Canadian delegation made up of Quebec Culture and Communications Minister, Agnès Maltais and Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Charles J. Furey. Mr. Furey is also Co-chair of the next Federal-Provincial-Territorial Conference of Ministers of Culture.

Chaired by Lic. Rafael Tovar y de Teresa, President of the National Council for Culture and the Arts of Mexico, the meeting examined three themes: Heritage at the End of the Century, New Actors in Culture and Cultural Diversity in an Era of Globalization.

During the meeting, participating Network countries entrusted Canada with the mandate for housing a permanent Liaison Office for the Contact Group responsible for coordinating the activities of the Network.

"This meeting gave rise to positive exchanges which were enriched by the contributions of my colleagues from Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador," stated Minister Copps. "I am pleased to note there was a unanimity in Oaxaca on the part of all participants in favour of the promotion of cultural diversity."

"Cultural diversity is a guarantee for the preservation of heritage for humanity," stated Minister Maltais. "This is why the respect of the right of states and governments to freely establish their cultural policy and adopt the necessary means and instruments for their implementation is fundamental."

"Newfoundland and Labrador have a unique heritage in Canada. The discovery of the Viking village at l'Anse-aux-Meadows is a treasure which history has given us. We must protect our heritage treasures for future generations, and I wish to highlight the remarkable work of UNESCO in my province," stated Minister Furey. "The Oaxaca meeting has enabled us to realize that we are not alone in sharing these concerns."

A Canadian initiative, the International Network on Cultural Policy was formed in June, 1998 in Ottawa. This Network which currently has 33 member-countries is a vehicle through which culture ministers can explore issues related to cultural diversity in an increasingly globalized world and propose possible solutions.

The next meetings of the International Network on Cultural Policy will be held in Greece in the year 2000, in Switzerland in 2001 and in South Africa in 2002.

For more information on the Network, you can consult the Department of Canadian Heritage web site at www.pch.gc.ca/network-reseau.

Information:

Catherine Gagnaire
Communications Assistant
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788

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