Member states of the OIF join forces to celebrate the French language in Mexico.
Mexico will be an observer state of the Francophonie (OIF) – as was reported at the launch of the International Week of the Francophonie 2015, during which the states of the OIF join forces to celebrate the French language and cultural expressions from 17 to 22 March.
The celebration will allow highlighting the strength of the French language and the common values of the Francophonie such as the promotion of cultural diversity, highlighting the dynamism and innovation of the Francophone community in Mexico. Language is primarily the bond of tolerance and plurality, and the French language is an opportunity, it is a language of linguistic and cultural diversity, said Éric R. Mercier, Delegate General from Quebec in Mexico. In the 2015 edition, the coordination of the Francophonie Week is run by the Québec Government Office in Mexico.
At the press conference to announce program of the Week of the Francophonie the participants present were Maryse Bossière, Ambassador of France in Mexico; Alejandro Negrin, director for Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Éric R. Mercier, Quebec Delegate General in Mexico; José Luis Martínez, Director General of International Affairs, National Council for Culture and Arts; Daniel Zulaof, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in Mexico; Obou Marcellin Abie, Ambassador of Ivory Coast in Mexico; Hristo Gudjev, Ambassador of Bulgaria in Mexico and Hans Christian Kint, Belgian Ambassador to Mexico. Éric R. Mercier, Delegate General of Quebec in Mexico, said he was particularly honored to lead the coordination of the Francophonie Week and celebrated the entry of Mexico to the OIF noting the new opportunities that this presents to enrich the links between Mexico and its Francophone partners in a space of dialogue and cooperation. He also emphasized the issue of cultural diversity which characterizes the Francophonie.
Meanwhile Maryse Bossière, Ambassador of France in Mexico, said that "the OIF celebrates that Mexico has always known how to preserve the French language since the creation in 1860 of the first institutions of French education, without forgetting the opening in Mexico in 1884 of one of the first French Alliances outside France. Today Mexico is the leading country in Latin America in the number of students of French. "
The diplomat stressed the importance of French in the lives of prominent figures in history, literature and culture of Mexico such as Alfonso Reyes, Octavio Paz and Carlos Fuentes, who among others, "shaped by the Francophone culture were eloquent champions of cultural diversity ".
Maryse Bossière noted that the decision of the Francophone to integrate Mexico "took into account the strong attachment of this country to humanist values and cooperation beyond sharing the same language " .
The French Ambassador to Mexico concluded that "the admission within the OIF of Mexico, land of history and great culture, contributes significantly to the projection and brightness of this organization, in the same way that it contributes to the development of francophonie and Francophone culture in Mexico. "
The Director General of International Affairs of Conaculta, José Luis Martínez, mentionedof the importance of the French language and Francophone culture among Mexican writers and French speakers.
In this regard, the general manager for Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Alejandro Negrin said that Mexico is consistent with the interest of expanding its activities to all the francophone countries.
La Semaine de la Francophonie, will present various activities such as French movies, documentaries, music and sports among others.