(To be checked against delivered speech)

Message to the Third Summit of the Council of Europe from the Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to extend my best wishes for a successful Third Summit of the Council of Europe in Warsaw, Poland. Canada shares, along with the Council of Europe and its individual member states, an enduring commitment to democratic development, human rights and the rule of law. The achievements of the Council of Europe in each of these areas has been remarkable and this Third Summit provides an historic opportunity to chart a determined course for the future. As an Observer State and signatory to several important conventions and treaties developed under the leadership of the Council of Europe, Canada will continue to contribute to the vital ongoing work of the organization. As we strive to build an inclusive Canadian society, bringing together disparate groups and interests in the service of a common purpose, we know that Europe is also working to create the same stable and cohesive societies. I am confident that the outcomes of this Third Summit will contribute to a legacy of success in the areas of priority for the Council
of Europe and that we, as citizens of the world, will also benefit from that success."