Lebanese Ministry of Information
Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makary, met on Monday at his ministry office with the Representative of the International Organization of La Francophonie in the Middle East, Lévon Amirjanyan, accompanied by the Francophone Organization’s Program Attaché, Thi Ha Fu, who came on a protocol visit on the occasion of assuming his duties as the Organization’s Beirut Bureau chief.
The meeting took place in the presence of the Special Representative of President General Michel Aoun to the International Organization of La Francophonie, Dr. Jarjoura Hardan, and Information Minister’s Advisor for Francophone Affairs, Elissar Naddaf.
Amirjanian expressed his happiness for being the first representative of the Francophonie in Lebanon, stressing that “Lebanon is a country dear to his heart, especially since the relations between his country and Lebanon are very strong.”
He pointed out that his appointment in Lebanon came under difficult circumstances witnessed in the country, stressing his determination to support the Lebanese people and to preserve and promote the Francophonie in this country.
Amirjanian pointed out that “the prime goal of the Francophonie is to preserve the French language as well as the Francophone values, and to work on several projects that help the Francophone peoples, such as education, culture, media, and especially the economy.”
He spoke about two Francophone projects, the first related to the displaced Syrians such as education, health and women empowerment, and the second related to an economic mission through strengthening economic exchange between the Francophone countries.
Amirjanian also indicated that the meeting with Minister Makary touched on an economic mission for Lebanon to be will be announced later.
He concluded, “We will work, through the Francophonie office in Beirut, to strengthen relations between Lebanon and the Organization, to strengthen the Francophone in the region, and to support cultural and linguistic pluralism.”
In turn, Minister Makary affirmed his adherence to the Francophonie in the state media, such as Lebanon TV (Tele Liban), Radio Lebanon and the National News Agency (NNA), which disseminate news in the French language.
Makary also called on the Francophone Representative to visit the Ministry’s directorates and the state media outlets, such as Tele Liban, and hoped that there would be a “partnership between the Francophone organization, the MoI and the Lebanese state media.”
The Minister also underlined keenness on the French language and the Francophone values.
Makary also touched on the Francophone activities through the official state media, and they agreed on further cooperation.
NNA
