The 31st Session of the Ministerial Conference of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) has kicked off in Yerevan.
Participating in the Session are delegations of France headed by H.E. Harlem Desir, State Secretary of European Affairs, Canadian delegation headed by Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Franchophonie, a delegation of Quebec headed by Christine St-Pierre, Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, and Jacques Chagnon, President of the National Assembly of Quebec, a Lithuanian delegation headed by Andrius Krivas, Deputy Foreign Minister of Lithuania. Michaelle Jean, Secretary-General of La Francophonie, Saliou Akadiri, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Benin, Jean- Claude Gakosso, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of the Congo, Duong Chi Dung, Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Vietnam have also arrived in Armenia to attend the Session. Invitations were sent to the foreign ministers of 80 states on behalf of Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie Michaelle Jean and Foreign Minister of Senegal Mankeur Ndiaye. The Ministerial Conference will cover issues on the OIF agenda, as well as topical international and regional problems. Cultural events are planned on the sidelines of the Session. World- renowned chanson singer Charles Aznavour and folk music groups from France and Haiti will perform in Yerevan and Gyumri.