20000325

Francophony

day

KARACHI: Every year the Journee de la Francophonie is celebrated on March 20 in France and elsewhere in the world. The ceremony had particular importance this year because it had commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Agence de la Francophonie.

It was on March 20, 1970 in Niamey that the representatives of 21 countries signed the treaty setting up the cultural and technical cooperation agency, the center piece of multilateral Francophony, at the instigation of Presidents Leopold Sedar Senghor, Habib Bourguiba and Hamani Diori.

The Francophone community has changed a lot in the past 30 years. It now groups 55 states and governments from five continents and has acquired a real political dimension. United by a common language and the values it promotes, Francophonie is committed to furthering democracy, the rule of law, diversity and dialogue among the cultures.

The events had shown the wealth and vitality of Francophone expression within the Francophone community and in other countries.

In addition to the official ceremonies took place in Niamey where the 36th session of the Permanent Francophony Council met, round tables, seminars, conferences, competition, musical and theatre evenings, exhibition and events in schools had been organised in more than 100 countries.ÑPR