- This event has passed.
17th Summit of La Francophonie in Yerevan
Alain Berset represents Switzerland at the 17th Summit of La Francophonie, in Yerevan. Theme: “Living together in solidarity, sharing humanist values and respecting diversity”. Switzerland presents a resolution on cultural participation: opening culture to as many people as possible, making creation a factor of social cohesion. It also supports the organisation’s strategy on equality between women and men.
In his opening speech, he makes a diagnosis: “a crisis of multilateralism, a crisis of democracy, a crisis of communication”. Against withdrawal, La Francophonie is an asset, because French is “the frame of reference in which we can think the world”. Three lines for Switzerland: learning French, defending the organisation’s principles, discipline in its priorities. He quotes Édouard Glissant and his “mondialité”, a world of exchange where differences remain and become a strength.
The summit adopts the Yerevan Declaration and appoints Rwanda’s Louise Mushikiwabo as Secretary General of the OIF. Switzerland has been a member of the organisation since 1996.
Thursday 11 October 2018 — Yerevan
- Welcome of the heads of state and government by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Secretary General Michaëlle Jean, family photo
- Opening ceremony of the summit: speech by Alain Berset
- First plenary session, then closed session on the international situation
- Bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit, including with Canada and Quebec
- Interview with TV5 Monde
- Concert in tribute to Charles Aznavour at the Francophonie Village
- State dinner hosted by the Armenian authorities
Friday 12 October 2018 — Yerevan
- Plenary session: general debate, adoption of the Yerevan Declaration and resolutions
- Visit to the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art (ACCEA)
- Closed session: election of the Secretary General of La Francophonie
Speeches on this site
- Discours au XVIIe Sommet de la Francophonie à Erevan (French-language page)
Sources