By Roy Lie Atjam
The Hague, 20th March 2023. Each year, on 20 March, Francophones celebrate their shared language and the great cultural diversity that comes with it. Therefore, H.E. Mr. Slim Ghariani, Ambassador of Tunisia and President of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors, welcomed the guests on behalf of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in The Hague, to celebrate together the International Day of La Francophonie; day organized jointly by the alliance française, the French Institute in the Netherlands, the Lycée Français Vincent Van Gogh, with the support of TV5 monde.
The theme was “Francophonie without borders” the program took visitors on a trip to six countries of the Francophonie: Côte d’Ivoire, Romania, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Wallonia- Brussels.
Each country offered a typical cultural activity, illustrating the cultural and linguistic diversity that enriches the common Francophone Movement. The Ambassadors of Rwanda, France, Armenia, Morocco, Tunisia and representatives of Roumania and Wallonia, graced the event by their presence. Further in attendance, visitors from all walks of life, including children.
H.E. Slim Ghariani, Ambassador of Tunisia, and President of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors, delivered the welcome address at this festive occasion by welcomed the guests on behalf of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in The Hague, to celebrate together the International Day of La Francophonie. Here is a free translation of the French text.
“We are very happy to share with you this beautiful evening in such a friendly atmosphere which reflects the depth of the bonds of friendship existing within our French-speaking space. Your remarkable and eminent participation testifies to the common will of the French-speaking family to celebrate together what I named the other day our coming together in a constellation of particularities. This union despite diversity is sealed through a tool that is dear to all of us, the language of Molière. »
The evening entitled “Francophonie without borders”: the international day of the Francophonie”, staged a trip to 6 countries of the Francophonie: Côte d’Ivoire, Romania, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Wallonia- Brussels. Each country has a room to offer the public a typical cultural activity, which illustrates the cultural and linguistic diversity that enriches the common Francophone Movement.
“Each year, on March 20,” says the Ambassador, “International Francophonie Day is celebrated around the world. This date refers to the birth, on March 20, 1970 in Niamey (Niger), of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation, which is the ancestor of the International Organization of La Francophonie. Established in 1988, this festive event is a way for the States and governments of the OIF to celebrate this important event and to rekindle the flame of the desire for fruitful cooperation between them.
Tunisia, which currently chairs the Mouvement de la Francophonie, attaches great importance to the celebration of this Day, in which it sees a symbol of peace, solidarity, tolerance and mutual understanding. Founding country of the institutional Francophonie and active partner in the Movement, Tunisia has always paid constant and particular attention to the development of the Francophone project.
Anchored in its multiple North African, Arab-Muslim, African and Mediterranean identity, Tunisia has remained over the centuries an open country, tolerant in the search for new frameworks of cooperation, basing its relations with the rest of the world on a spirit of collaboration and partnership that benefits Tunisians and all of humanity”.
La Francophonie sans frontières: la journée internationale de la Francophonie, edition 2023 has been a resounding success.
