Festival of Flags signs another agreement

Festival of Flags, Inc. has signed its second memorandum during Team Canada�s February 12 - 22 trade mission to Germany and Russia.

In Berlin today, Festival of Flags project manager Elaine Murray signed a memorandum of co-operation and understanding with Dr. Peter Jahn, Director of Museum Berlin-Karlshorst (German-Russian Museum) in the former East Berlin. Deputy Premier Beaton Tulk also participated in the signing ceremony, which took place just before Team Canada left for Munich, where the trade mission will conclude on Friday.

This memorandum is similar to one Festival of Flags signed on Friday in Moscow and will give the organization access to Museum Berlin-Karlshorst�s exhibits and artifacts, historical resources and documents relating to World War II.

"Each milestone we reach is an important step toward achieving our ultimate goal � construction of a Museum of the Atlantic Allies at Argentia," said Ms. Murray. In addition to a museum, the group�s master plan also envisions an international peace centre.

"What we have done here in the East, we can now help happen in the West," said Dr. Jahn. In 1990, following the German-Soviet agreements on the withdrawal of Soviet Armed Forces out of Germany, both sides agreed to collaborate to use the museum to commemorate the historical event that ended World War II. A unique German-Russian association comprises the board of the museum.

This agreement was one of two signed by Newfoundland and Labrador trade mission participants today, bringing to four the number for the province since the trade mission began. Two others, including the one for Festival of Flags, were signed last week while the trade mission was in Moscow.

Media contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Communications, (709) 729-4570.

2002 02 19                          4:45 p.m.