As part of the events this week commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Montréal-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was generously honoured today by the President of the Quebec National Assembly, Mr. Jacques Chagnon, on behalf of all of the parties and MNAs in the Quebec legislature.
Mr. Chagnon"™s honour was acknowledged by the Secretary General of ICAO, Mr. Raymond Benjamin, who was in attendance in the President"™s Gallery in the Quebec Parliament along with State"™ Representatives to ICAO and the First Vice-President of the ICAO Council, Mr. Alexei Novgorodov "“ representing ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. Mr. Benjamin rose briefly after the announcement by Chagnon and was warmly applauded by all in attendance.
"On behalf of ICAO, I am deeply grateful that myself and my ICAO Member State colleagues were so warmly and generously acknowledged today by the highest levels of Quebec"™s political community," Mr. Benjamin later remarked. "Our presence in your lovely province and in the beautiful and dynamic city of Montréal has been very rewarding these past seven decades, and we will certainly look forward to working with all of our government partners in the future to ensure ICAO"™s continued and significant contributions to the local economy."
Shortly after the honour was acknowledged, the Assembly unanimously adopted a related motion tabled on behalf of his government by Quebec Premier, Mr. Philippe Couillard, applauding ICAO"™s presence in Montréal on the occasion of the United Nations agency"™s 70th anniversary.
After adjournment, the ICAO guests were honoured with a reception by Assembly President Chagnon, where he and representatives of each party represented in Quebec"™s National Assembly toasted ICAO. In accepting these further acknowledgements, Mr. Benjamin also presented Mr. Chagnon with an ICAO 70th Anniversary commemorative coin.
