President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, who is on an official visit to France, on Tuesday met with Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Michaëlle Jean, at the organization’s headquarters.

The President stressed that this meeting is first of all a good opportunity for summing up the achievements of previous years and determining further actions, considering that next year marks the 10th anniversary of Armenia’s membership to the OIF.

At the meeting, President Sargsyan noted that in the cooperation with Francophonie, Armenia has never ceased exerting efforts towards promoting the organization’s values and disseminating French. Apart from this, thanks to the support of the OIF, a complete education cycle starting from kindergarten to university operates in Armenia.

According to the President, the cooperation with the organization has not only contributed to the dissemination of the French language and culture in Armenia, but also served as a platform for strengthening the bilateral ties with the member and observer states and expanding international cooperation.

In this context, Sargsyan stressed the role of holding the 31st Ministerial Conference of the OIF in Armenia in 2015.

The President and OIF Secretary General both attached importance to the close cooperation established between Armenia and the partner institutions of OIF. Referring to this, the sides noted the cooperation with the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), as a result of which a number of schools of the republic created conditions for advanced learning of French. Besides, a number of music and art schools, as well as libraries have been renovated.

Reference was also made to the pressing issues regarding the Francophonie family. The interlocutors exchanged views on Armenia’s participation in the peacekeeping missions carried out in the OIF member and observer states. The Armenian President thanked for the balanced stance of the organization and that of personally Ms Jean on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Support to the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs—the only specialized format dealing with the issue—is a support to the establishment of peace and stability in the region.  

Furthermore, the interlocutors touched on the work carried out ahead of the OIF 2018 Summit to be held in Armenia. In Sargsyan’s words, the decision on holding such an authoritative summit in Armenia not only indicates the country’s commitment to the values of the organization but also the high level of confidence towards the country. The President stressed that this is very obliging, and Armenia is willing to ensure the success of that important event.

Moreover, Sargsyan briefed the Secretary General on the preparatory work ahead of the summit, noting that an interagency commission has been formed under the chairmanship of the Armenian Prime Minister, while the country’s MFA—along with the organization—is already engaged in drawing up the action plan of preparations. He proposed to focus the main attention on sustainable development, innovation, as well as information technologies and youth affairs.

At the OIF office, the President also made a note in the Honorary Guest Book.  

By the end of the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan and Michaëlle Jean made statement before the media, recapping the results of the meeting.  The Armenian leader thanked for the meeting and warm reception and invited the Secretary General to visit Armenia before the summit.

Ms Jean, for her part, stressed that Francophonie is rich by its diversity and the legacy born by its members, as well as the message and future vision, which the organization is able to transmit to other members. She assured that the OIF is looking forward to the Armenian Summit, which, according to her, is a good opportunity for the country to show its great will and inexorability of surviving and creating.