Montréal Mayor Reacts to the Death of Boutros Boutros-Ghali

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 16, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Montréal Mayor Denis Coderre reacted to the passing today of former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, at the age of 93.

"While Montréal just welcomed the current United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, for a two-day official visit, I am saddened to learn of the death of one of his predecessors, Mr. Boutros-Ghali, the first Secretary-General to visit Montréal, which he did in 1994 during the 50^th anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)," said Mr. Coderre.

Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, an Egyptian politician and diplomat, served as UN Secretary General from 1992 to 1996 and was the first African to hold this post.

Following his tenure at the United Nations, Mr. Boutros-Ghali was elected first Secretary-General of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), a position he occupied from 1998 to 2002. As head of the OIF, Mr. Boutros-Ghali championed the organization by highlighting its critical role in support of cultural diversity, so important to the democratization of international relations. He also underscored the importance of international cooperation among French-speaking nations in areas of higher education and academic research."

"Furthermore, as Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Boutros Ghali participated in the negotiation of the Camp David Accords signed in 1979 by Israel and Egypt. A diplomat, intellectual and Francophile, Mr. Boutros-Ghali has left his permanent mark on the history of international relations," added Mayor Coderre.

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

Catherine Maurice, Press Secretary, Office of the Mayor and the Executive Committee, 514-346-7598