Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrates International Francophonie Day, 20 March
21 March 2024 News
On 19 March, on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Mariya Gabriel, a reception was given on the occasion of the International Francophonie Day. The event took place at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The event was attended by MPs, diplomats accredited in the Republic of Bulgaria, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Culture, teachers, university professors, prominent figures of culture and art, as well as business representatives.
Mr Ivan Kondov, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, read out a welcome address by Mrs Mariya Gabriel. In the speech it was noted that the International Organization of La Francophonie was one of the first organizations that the Republic of Bulgaria joined after the restoration of democracy. Emphasis was placed on the opportunities that the Republic of Bulgaria provides for training of and in the French language, for attracting investment and new technologies from French-speaking countries, as well as for career development in many different fields. It was noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a partner in the campaign ‘Continuons en français — Let's learn French in Bulgarian universities’, organized by the Francophone University Agency, the Association of Teachers of and in French, Francophone programs in Bulgarian universities, the Ministry of Education and Science, the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Embassy of the French Republic and the French Institute. The aim of the campaign is to present to young people the opportunities for obtaining high-quality higher education in French in the Republic of Bulgaria. The speech also highlighted the importance of the Francophonie in the global context, its role in the development of international dialogue and cooperation, as well as its contribution to tackling some of the major challenges facing humanity.
Mrs. Iliana Iotova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria and H. E. Mrs. Zakia El Midaoui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Morocco and President of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in the Republic of Bulgaria also welcomed the guests.
During the event the documentary ‘In One Language’, dedicated to the participation of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Francophonie, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs produced and a team of the Bulgarian National Television created, was presented for the first time.