The Prime Minister gave a speech at the 18th summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie – African Business

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will be participating in the 18th summit of International Organization of Francophonie, Djerba (Republic of Tunisia). The organization was chaired by Armenia for the last four year.

The event began with President of Tunisia Kais Salih and Secretary General of International Organization of Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo welcoming the heads of the countries, including Prime Minster Pashinyan. The summit is being hosted by Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister and the French President Emmanuel Macron.

The summit began immediately following a video recording ceremony.

In his speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan said:

“Your Excellency, Honorable President Kais Saied,
Dear colleagues, All Heads of State & Government
Heads of delegations
Madame Secretary General de Francophonie
Ladies and gentlemen

First, I want to express my gratitude for being in Djerba Tunisia in such a intimate and valued francophone environment.

I would like to thank President Saied, Tunisia and all the Tunisians for hosting this important meeting and for their warm hospitality.

We pay our respects, President Habib Bourguiba, one of the founding fathers Francophonie, by holding this Francophonie summit in Tunisia for the first time.

Your Excellencies, dear colleagues,
Madame Secretary General de Francophonie

Four years have passed since Yerevan’s last Francophonie summit. This is an extremely long period of time for the current presidency. However, the Republic of Armenia has honored all of its commitments by unconditionally implementing them.

Dear Louise Mushikiwabo is the General Secretary of La Francophonie. I want to thank her for managing our organization so well during this process and for the quality relationships that were established. I am glad we were able cooperate in total harmony.

I would also like her to acknowledge her efforts in shaping a new image and making the OIF a forward-looking organization with ambitions to meet the challenges facing the world.

In recent years, the world has been subject to major changes. The terrible Covid-19 pandemic, climate emergency, resumption wars, and their effects on global food and energy supplies all had a profound impact on the creation of a new international environment.

Nevertheless, the listed challenges have revealed the relevance and exactness of the values and approaches that underpin our responses.

Faced with pandemics, and other urgent climate challenges, it is important to continue to promote increased cooperation between countries, emphasizing solidarity. The proposal of programs and initiatives should be seen as a benefit to the most vulnerable nations as well as those living in the most dangerous situations.

Faced with the activation of hate speech and intolerance, today we are once again convinced of the relevance of the slogan of the Yerevan Summit “Live Together” and the need to promote respect for human rights, equality and cultural diversity.

Finally, facing the multiplication of crises and conflicts, we welcome the Francophonie’s commitment to multilateralism, which guarantees the existence of an international system based on law and respect for the sovereignty of states.

Unfortunately, we have seen that the UN Charter’s fundamental principles have been violated in recent times. This includes the principle of not using force to undermine the territorial integrity of any country. This principle is the basis of our collective security. Thus, the Law of the Strongest has been gradually imposed.

This reality is clearly illustrated by the aggression of Azerbaijan to which Armenia was subjected on September 13-14.

Azerbaijan’s totally unjustified and unprovoked aggression led to the occupation of a part of Armenia’s territories, causing death and suffering to the civilian population and causing considerable destruction.

The established ceasefire, however, has not yet put an end to this country’s ambitions for other territories of Armenia.

Faced with new threats we expect the international community will make a fair assessment about the situation in which our country is today. We condemn the occupation of Armenian territory and demand the return of Azerbaijani troops to their original positions.

Armenia, on its part, is committed to contributing to the peace process with Azerbaijan as well as ensuring rights and security for the Armenian people of Nagorno Karabakh.

Your Excellencies, dear colleagues,
Madame Secretary General de Francophonie

Armenia, as the current Chair of the Francophonie Summit, has consistently continued its activities within the framework of Yerevan’s Francophone call to live together, initiating the resolution on living together during the Covid-19 pandemic, which was adopted in November 2020 by the Francophonie Ministerial Conference.

Our country has been diligent in following La Francophonie’s activities in the digital and financial domains, as well as the significant progress made under Secretary General. We expressed our gratitude to OIF for their efforts to promote economic cooperation among different regions of the French-speaking globe.

A declaration on French language will be an important document. It will record the role of French language in unifying all Francophone nations.

Finally, Armenia has accompanied and supported the Secretary-General in the implementation of these reforms, and it’s good that our organization is now working towards the implementation of the road map based on the main priorities of Francophonie and implemented in a reaffirmed and new strategic framework.

Armenia is confident that this declared universal goal will allow for recognition of Francophonie at international level. It will also allow for the spread of its values, ideas, and principles, which my country is deeply committed to.

Your Excellencies, dear colleagues,
Madame Secretary General de Francophonie

As I close my speech, let me express my gratitude to Secretary General for her willingness to participate.

Now it’s time for me to hand over to you, Mr. President, the presidency of the Francophonie Summit, wishing you every success.

Thanks for attention”.

After the speech, Tunisia was given the presidency of International Organization of Francophonie.

Distributed by APO Group, on behalf of The Prime Minster of the Republic of Armenia.