The Secretary-General of the Francophone Organization, Louise Michikabo, said, on Saturday, that the crisis that the world has witnessed in recent years did not prevent her organization from achieving tangible results, and it became more effective and solidarity.
In her speech during the opening of the 18th session of the Francophone Summit held on the Tunisian island of Djerba, Michiquabo said, “The last four years were not appropriate because we faced storms that blew across the world, such as the Corona crisis, climate changes, and political changes, but these storms did not prevent us from achieving tangible results.” .
She added, “The organization has become more effective and solidarity through activities that can change the lives of citizens.”
Regarding the goals that the organization seeks to achieve, Michiquabo said, “It is mainly based on work and influence in the field of education and development, in addition to making the Francophone a link for exchange and dialogue to de-escalate tension, in addition to encouraging young people in the Francophone space.”
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The summit, which continues until Sunday, is attended by 89 countries, including 31 heads of state and government, 5 deputy prime ministers, a large number of foreign ministers and ministers in charge of the Francophonie, in addition to ambassadors and representatives of international and regional organizations.
Among the participating officials are French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Tunisian President Kais Saied said, in his speech during the opening of the summit, that “we must dream of a better world for the sake of all humanity, a world built on justice, freedom and ideals that we are called to share with all humanity.”
He added, “If we succeed in Djerba… in identifying our problems and overcoming them, everyone will emerge victorious.”
The 18th Francophone Summit was scheduled to be held in Tunisia in November 2021, but it was decided to postpone it for a year, “in order to allow Tunisia to be able to organize this important meeting in the best conditions,” according to two statements issued at the time by the International Organization of La Francophonie and the Tunisian Foreign Ministry.
Since 1986, the Francophonie Summit has been meeting every two years at the level of heads of state and government of French-speaking countries affiliated with the organization.
The organization is based in Paris and includes 88 countries, and its main missions are to promote the French language, cultural and linguistic diversity, peace, democracy, human rights and support for education.