Visit of the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, and a Parliamentary Delegation, Holy See, Romania and Slovenia
From May 14 to 24, 2009, the Honourable Noël A. Kinsella, Speaker of the Senate, led an official delegation composed of the Honourable Senators George Furey and John D. Wallace to the Holy See, Romania and Slovenia.
At the Holy See, the delegation met with:
- His Eminence Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity;
- His Eminence Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council the Family; and
- The Most Reverend Liam Bergin, Rector of the Irish Pontifical College.
During the visit, the delegation met His Most Eminent Highness the Prince Fra’ M. Festing, Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. While in Rome, the delegation also met with the Rector of LUISS Guido Carli, Professor Massimo Egidi and the Speaker presented certificates to four students who completed an internship with the Senate of Canada.
In Romania, the delegation met with:
- His Excellency Emil Boc, Prime Minister of Romania;
- His Excellency Mircea Geoană, Speaker of the Senate;
- Her Excellency Roberta Anastase, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies;
- Her Excellency Ecaterina Andronescu, Minister of Education, Research and Innovation;
- His Excellency Ilie Sârbu, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development;
- His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania;
- Mr. Titus Corlătean, Senator, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as members of the committee;
- Mr. Emilian Valentin Frâncu, Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Human Rights, Cults and Minorities, as well as members of the committee;
- Mr. Sorin Serioja Chivu, Senator, Chairman of the Romania-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group, as well as members of the group;
- Mr. Marin Anton, Secretary of State, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure;
- Mr. Bogdan Aurescu, Secretary of State, Strategic Affairs; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and
- Professor Gheorghe Vlad Nistor, Director of the Romanian Diplomatic Institute.
Speaker Kinsella also delivered an address on human rights to faculty members and students at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute.
While in Slovenia, the delegation met with:
- His Excellency Danilo Türk, President of the Republic of Slovenia;
- His Excellency Borut Pahor, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia;
- His Excellency Blaž Kavčič, President of the National Council;
- His Excellency Pavel Gantar, President of the National Assembly;
- His Excellency Milan Pogačnik, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food;
- His Excellency Patrick Vlačič, Minister of Transport;
- The Most Reverend Alojz Uran, Archbishop of Ljubljana;
- Mr. Milan Ozimič, Leader of the interest group of local interests, National Council;
- His Worship Štefan Čelan, Mayor, City of Ptuj;
- His Worship Boris Popovič, Mayor, City of Koper;
- Commander Andrej Androjna, 430th Naval Division;
- Mr. József Györkös, Secretary of State, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology;
- Mr. Uroš Krek, State Secretary, Ministry of Defence;
- Mr. Rado Bohinc, Rector, University of Primorska;
- Mr. Marjan Babič, Member of the Management Board, Luka Koper;
- Mr. Boris Marzi, Member of the Management Board, Luka Koper;
- Mr. Andrej Simončič, Director, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia; and
- Mr. Ciril Smkolj, President, Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry.
During the visit, Senator Wallace signed a memorandum of agreement, on behalf of the City of Saint John, New Brunswick, with the Mayor of the City of Koper to twin the two municipalities. Speaker Kinsella also delivered an address on official bilingualism in Canada to students at the University of Primorska.
The objectives of the visit were to:
- enhance relations between Canada and the Holy See, Romania and Slovenia;
- encourage ongoing parliamentary dialogue by further promoting parliamentary exchanges;
- highlight the range of Canada’s interests in the region;
- discuss foreign policies with respect to issues of international and mutual interest;
- promote educational exchanges in the region;
- promote research sharing in the area of agriculture;
- promote collaboration between container shipping ports; and
- pursue good relations in all fields of contact.