38th Session of ICAO Assembly in Montréal - Montréal's Mayor Reasserts Commitment to Organization

Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif

MONTREAL, Sept. 25, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Montréal Mayor Laurent Blanchard is pleased to have taken part, alongside Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs John Baird, Québec Premier Pauline Marois and several other dignitaries, in the opening ceremony of the 38^th Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly.

Conscious of the privilege of being the only Canadian city to host a United Nations agency, Montréal is playing a full part in the success of this event running from September 24 through October 4, 2013. Last spring, as we know, Montréal assumed a key role in ICAO's lease renewal, which had been jeopardized by a competitive bid from Qatar.

"Montréal, a cosmopolitan city with a window on the world, is honored by the United Nation's presence here. Very few cities enjoy our international status. The new agreement between Canada and the ICAO will allow us to maintain our excellent relations through 2036. As Mayor of Montréal, I am delighted by this good news. On behalf of all residents, I reiterate our hopes that the ICAO, its staff and family members are happy here," said Montréal Mayor Blanchard.

Montréal's Mayor also took the opportunity to announce that the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) had accepted the city's request to change the Square-Victoria Metro Station's identification. OACI [ICAO] banners will now fly above this stop, which serves the Quartier International." Through this initiative, Montréal's Mayor sought to demonstrate his gratitude and his pride in being home to the ICAO.

"At the request of Montréal's Mayor, the STM is making this symbolic gesture by linking the ICAO's name with that of the Square-Victoria Metro Station, with passages directly to the international agency. While the station's official name will remain unchanged, it will appear on the platform alongside the new "OACI" designation, which becomes another name for the station. The ICAO thus gains the same status as "Vieux-Montréal," second name of the Champ-de-Mars station and Parc olympique, also used for the Viau Station," said Mr. Michel Labrecque, Board Chair of the STM.

"This symbolic gesture underscores the ICAO's importance and highlights Montréal's international character, while making Montréal residents and metro riders aware that ICAO and the United Nations are present here," said the Mayor.

Image with caption: "The Mayor of, Montreal Mr. Laurent Blanchar; Quebec Premier, Mme Pauline Marois; President of the ICAO Council. Mr. Roberto Kobeh González; Secretary general of the ICAO Mr. Raymond Benjamin and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the STM, Mr. Michel Labrecque (CNW Group/Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130925_C4394_PHOTO_EN_31325.jpg

SOURCE: Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif

Jonathan Abecassis, Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor and the Executive Committee
514-872-9998