Cyprus signs memorandum with Francophone Organisation

A memorandum was signed between Cyprus, the Francophone EU countries (Belgium, France, Luxembourg) and the International Francophone Organisation.
The signing of the memorandum took place in the presence of the special envoy of the special envoy of the General Secretary of the International Francophone Organization Stephane Lopez, Ambassadors and Honorary Consuls representing 16 Francophone countries to Cyprus.
The memorandum aims at the implementation of a programme in the framework of which high-ranking civil servants, dealing with European issues and attending sessions of EU instruments, will learn French.
Speaking during a press conference, Foreign Minister George Lillikas said the implementation of the programme aims to prepare Cyprus that will take over the EU Presidency in 2012, as civil servants will become capable of dealing with documents written in French.
He added that Francophony is an important factor for peace, stability and cooperation between the countries and the people, adding that the French language is spoken by 80 million people in all continents, international organizations and in the EU in which Cyprus is a member since 2004.
Minister of Education and Culture Akis Kleanthous said his Ministry is examining various plans for the further promotion of the French language to public schools, adding there is no doubt that the heritage of the French language and the values it holds constitute a valuable opening to the contemporary world for us.
General Secretary of the International Francophone Organization Abdou Diouf, in a message read out at the press conference, underlined that the French language unites industrial states, developed or less developed, and unites countries where everyone has the right to education, to proficiency and to the modern technology of communication”.