The Francophonie summit will take place in Armenia from October 11-12, where from October 7-12, a Francophone center will be placed by the Opera. In that center, there will be a pavilion dedicated to France, as well as 20 other pavilions. The French ambassador to Armenia, Jonathan Lacote, announced this on September 28th in a press conference.
The ambassador mentioned that economic, media, technological, cultural, and educational events will take place by the pavilion. Lacote, quoting French President Emmanuel Macron, said that French is not only for speaking and for utilizing nowadays, but it is also a tool for creation and success, and a language full of possibilities.
The ambassador said that during the summit, representatives from countries that don’t have an Armenian embassy will be visiting Armenia. They will therefore be discovering Armenia for the first time. “Therefore, Yerevan will be the Francophone center for one week.”
He announced all the events that will take place during the Francophone summit in Armenia. The main event for the summit will be the French president’s visit to Armenia. The Minister of Education and Science and other high-ranking individuals will be guiding the French president.
Ambassador Lacote considered a collaboration with the Aznavour center to be important. He also emphasized the importance of the French University in Armenia. “If Armenia is a francophone country and has French-speaking youth, it’s because of the French university.”
The ambassador expressed hope that after the summit, Armenia will fully consider itself a member of the French-speaking community. “I hope that the summit will be a new political beginning for Armenia to collaborate with France and other French-speaking countries.”
Gohar Hakobyan
