ArmInfo.The chairmanship in the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) from Madagascar passed to Armenia. Today, on October 11, the chairman of the Senate of Madagascar Rivo Rakotovao announced the transfer of the chairmanship. Armenia will chair the Organization for two years. Two years later, the presidency from Armenia will pass to Tunisia.
On October 7, the XVII Summit of the International Organization of the Francophonie started in Yerevan. It was opened by the Secretary General of the OIF, Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OIF, Mikael Jean. On the same day at the Theater Square for visitors opened the "town of Francophony." In the 40 pavilions of 30 member countries of the OIF within 6 days will be presented achievements in the field of culture, economy and tourism.
The term "Francophonie" first appeared in 1880, when the French geographer Onesim Rex used it to refer to all people and countries who speak French. And the International Organization of the Francophonie was established in 1970 in Niamey (Niger) under the name "Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation". In 1998, the organization received its current name. At present, the OIF unites 84 states on five continents. Armenia acquired observer status at the OIF summit in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) in 2003. At the summit in Canadian Quebec in 2008, she became an associate member of the OIF, and at the summit in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in 2012, our country received the status of a full member of the organization, becoming the 54th country to join the OIF.