This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Auld Alliance online
08/04/2004
A new website to celebrate the strong bond of friendship
between France and Scotland is officially launched
today.
www.ententecordialescotland.org.uk
provides full details of all events in the Scottish
programme of cordiale celebrations, in Scotland and in
France, as well as in-depth previews, news interviews and
background features.
The website is being launched as HRH The Queen makes a
state visit to Paris to officially commemorate the
centenary of the signing of the Entente Cordiale between
the UK and France on 8 April 1904. The Scottish programme
of events is the biggest programme of overseas promotion
since devolution.
Tourism Minister Frank McAveety said:
"The entente cordiale celebrations offer excellent
opportunities to build on the long standing friendship that
has existed between the Scots and the French, since the
Auld Alliance of 1295. This website, which is in English
and French, will be a powerful tool to help promote the
huge variety of celebration events that are taking place
across Scotland and France."
The Scottish programme of events complements the UK
programme and includes trade and investment, science and
culture and education and sport events and activities. Some
of the highlights include the following:
* Trade fairs organised by Scottish Development
International
* Tourism fairs organised by VisitScotland
* Scottish/French cancer research conference in
Edinburgh
* An exhibition of Scottish Colourists in Paris
* A season of Scottish architecture in Paris
* A Charles Rennie Mackintosh exhibition
* Theatre projects in Lyon and Edinburgh
* French culture focus at Edinburgh's festivals in
August
Mr McAveety added:
"France is one of Scotland's most significant business
partners - it is Scotland's second biggest export market
and of course French tourists are vital for our tourism
industry. This is reflected in the extensive programme of
business activities which are aimed at boosting trade and
tourism between the two countries.
"Of course France is also important historically and
culturally and the wide range of cultural and arts events
build on these links. All the events and activities will
demonstrate to the people of France that Scotland is an
excellent place to visit, to do business with, and to live
in."
The Entente cordiale treaty was signed in London on 8
April 1904. It marked the end of the colonial disputes
between France and Great Britain. It now symbolises the
friendship and co-operation that exists between the two
countries.