BC-ME–St. Croix Anniversary,100

Leaders of France, Canada to attend celebration

BANGOR, Maine (AP) – Prime Ministers Jean-Pierre Raffarin of France and Paul Martin of Canada will take part in the June 26 celebration of the 400th anniversary of the first French settlement in the New World.

President Bush has yet to respond to an invitation to attend, organizers said.

The event will be held on St. Croix Island, where settlers spent the winter of 1604-05 before relocating to what is now Port Royal, Nova Scotia.

The island is located near the international border between Calais and St. Stephen, New Brunswick.

AP-ES-04-27-04 1338EDT