Wednesday, April 7, 2004 – The Université de Montréal has announced the founding of CÉRIUM, an international studies center. Raymond Chrétien, formerly Canada’s ambassador to France, the US, Mexico, Belgium and the Congo, will chair the board of directors. François Crépeau, professor of international law, and Jean-Philippe Thérien, professor of political science, have been named scientific director and deputy scientific director, respectively. Jean-François Lisée, formerly the Quebec premier’s international affairs advisor, has been appointed executive director.

Among its extensive fields of expertise, the Université de Montréal is home to many researchers studying international phenomena, as well as research groups that specialize in particular areas of the world or specific global issues. The new CÉRIUM will work toward developing greater synergy and cooperation among these players and increasing the level of international activity on campus.

The numerous studies on American and European realities being conducted at the UdeM make trans-Atlantic comparison the natural choice for CÉRIUM’s foremost area. Other principal research topics will include democratic governance and the challenges of economic globalization, development issues and strategies and diversity, identity and cultural transfers.

“I’ve just returned from Paris, and before that I spent nearly seven years in Washington, so I’m even more keenly aware of Montreal’s unique position as a meeting point for American and European culture and influence. I’m very pleased to be able to contribute to the work the university has set out for CÉRIUM, especially the pursuit of research into these two major zones, their interactions and their influence on our local and national reality and on our international relations,” said Raymond Chrétien, chairman of CÉRIUM’s board of directors.

CÉRIUM’s activities and projects will benefit from the generous support of Hydro-Québec through the World of Projects financing campaign recently completed by the Université de Montréal and its affiliated schools.

First public lecture: America’s Imperial Temptation

CÉRIUM will hold its first major public lecture, “America’s Imperial Temptation,” on Thursday, April 22. The speakers – Hubert Védrine, French minister of Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2002, and Simon Serfaty, a specialist in geostrategy and security from the Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies – will discuss their views on America’s current foreign policy. The event has been organized with the support of the Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal (CORIM) La Presse.

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Source:  Centre d’études et de recherches internationales (CÉRIUM)
      www.cerium.ca

Information: Sophie Langlois
      Media Relations
      Université de Montréal
      (514) 343-7704