Media Release

Mexico to become a partner of Forum of Federations

Media Release - 24 June 2005

 

The Government of Mexico will formalize its cooperation with the Forum of Federations (http://www.forumfed.org ) on Monday, June 27th.

The Forum is a Canadian-based international organization that acts as a worldwide network on federalism. It got its start at a large international conference at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec in 1999. The President of Mexico was one of the keynote speakers at that event.

Since 1999, Forum has worked closely with the Mexican state and federal governments and with civil society groups in Mexico. Among Forum's many Mexican activities was the Veracruz Conference in 2001, attended by more than 1,000 people.

Mexico is now committed to join Forum's six partner countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, India, Nigeria and Switzerland. Earlier this month, in Ottawa, the partners' Strategic Council held a successful inaugural meeting, chaired by the Swiss.

The Forum-Mexico signing will take place in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre at 2:15 PM on Monday.

For the Mexican Government there will be:

Carlos Abascal, Minister if the Interior; Marà­a Teresa Garcà­a de Madero, Mexican Ambassador to Canada; Gerónimo Gutiérrez, Undersecretary for North America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Juan Bosco Marti, Director General for North America, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; José Ignacio Madrazo, Deputy Head of Mission. The agreement will be signed by Minister Abascal.

Forum's recently appointed President and CEO, George Anderson will sign on behalf of Forum.

'Forum is extremely pleased that Mexico is taking this step,' said Forum President Anderson, 'It is another sign that what started as a Canadian initiative is being embraced by the international community of federal countries.'

For further information, please contact:

Karl Nerenberg: (613) 244-3360, ext 203, nerenberg@forumfed.org

Carl Thomas Stieren: (613) 244-3360, ext 207, stieren@forumfed.org