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La
Francophonie
Commonwealth
Partnership includes many African countries
by
Muguette Goufrani
In the large picture window at our local French club in downtown Vancouver, Canada is a sign that reads, "One out of every 3 Canadians speaks French." That's a very significant fact, yet what is lesser known in the world of travel, trade and commerce, is that almost half of Africa also speaks French (see below). That's another reason we will soon be featuring many French language features.
FRENCH COMMONWEALTH MEMBER
COUNTRIES:
Andorra, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic,
Comoros, Congo
Democratic Republic,
Congo Republic
(Zaire), Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti,
Dominica, Egypt,
Belgium, Benin,
Bulgaria, Burkina
Faso, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon,
Canada (New Brunswick, Quebec), France, Gabon,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea,
Haiti, Jersey Island, Laos, Lebanon, Mali,
Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania,
Moldava, Monaco, Niger,
Romania, Rwanda,
Saint Lucia, Sao
Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles,
Switzerland, Chad,
Togo, Tunisia, Wanuatu, Vietnam,
Albania, Macedonia, Poland, USA (Wisconsin, Louisiana, New
England).
www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreignp/francophonie
The following is an interpretation of a recent report by Mr. Duhamel, Secretary of State for Canada: La Francophonie has provided institutions to preserve the French language around the world, to raise awareness of our culture, to influence world affairs, to bolster our economies, to strengthen human security and to carve out a place for us among the major political blocs.
La Francophonie gradually took shape in the 1960s through ministerial conferences, bringing together various countries to discuss education, culture or development. Then it started in 1970 in Niamey, Niger, with the founding of the Agence de cooperation culturelle et technique now known as the Agence de la Francophonie. Canada was one of the original members and continues to play a leadership role. Since its first Summit, held in Paris in 1986, La Francophonie has become a valuable forum for exchanges and political dialogue. Today it consists of 52 states and governments from five continents representing 500 million people, of whom 170 million speak French. Other languages spoken in member countries include, Arabic, Vietnamese, Romanian, Flemish and a host of African tongues. The diversity of cultures constitutes an extraordinary source of wealth, creativity and dynamic energy. This is the perfect forum for collectively dealing with the globalization-triggered trends toward uniformity and homogeneity.
The programs of La Francophonie cover five major areas: Democracy and development, culture and communications; knowledge and progress; economic development; and international relations, including cooperation with other organization such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Organization of African Unity. La Francophonie also organizes standing and sectorial ministerial conferences, including a conference of education ministers and a conference of youth and sports ministers.
Over the years, La Francophonie has developed specific tools for better promoting the French language and spreading awareness of the French-speaking world's cultural diversity. A good example is the Montreal based Agence universitaire de la Francophonie with a membership of nearly 400 institutions of higher learning; its aim is to foster French-language scientific activities through research, education and training (including distance education), and the promotion of French. The biggest success story is undoubtedly TV5; this international French-Language television network is a partnership between Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland and several African countries. TV5 is one of the world's largest television networks and can reach nearly 100 million households in over 100 countries throughout the world. Last, the Francophonie Games, first held in Morocco in 1989, bring together French-speaking youth from around the world for a wonderful celebration of sport and culture. The next Games will be held in Canada's Ottawa-Hull region, from July 14 to 24, 2001. Some 2600 athletes and artists will participate.
To learn more about La Francophonie, visit the Office of Protocol of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade WEB SITE: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/foreignp/francophonie
Previous summits
PARIS FRANCE- 1986
QUEBEC CITY, CANADA - 1987
DAKAR, SENEGAL -1989
CHAILLOT, FRANCE -1991
MAURITIUS -1993
COTONOU, BENIN -1995
HANOI, VIETNAM - 1997
MONCTON, NB CANADA - SEPT, 1999
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