Armenia's civil servants to learn French

PanARMENIAN.Net - A program aimed at raising Armenian civil servants' proficiency in the French language was launched on January 18. 



The program is implemented in the framework of memorandum of understanding signed on June 9, 2009 between the International Organization of la Francophonie, governments of France, Luxembourg and the French community of Belgium. 

  

As the press office Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported, the program implemented by the Alliance Française-Arménie, will enable 70 civil servants working in ministries, parliament and Yerevan city administration to learn French. 

    

Alliance Française-Arménie is a cultural and educational organization, operating in Yerevan. Founded in 2002, Alliance Française-Arménie holds French language courses and TCF, TE tests. In addition, Alliance Française-Arménie organizes various exhibitions, conferences and festivals. 

  

Francophonie is an international organization of polities and governments with French as the mother or customary language, wherein a significant proportion of people are francophones (French speakers) or where there is a notable affiliation with the French language or culture. Formally known as the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) or the International Organization of the Francophonie, the organization comprises 56 member states and governments, 3 associate members, and 14 observers. Francophonie may also refer, particularly in French, to the global community of French-speaking peoples, comprising a network of private and public organizations promoting special ties among all Francophones. The prerequisite for admission to the Francophonie is not the degree of French usage in the member countries, but a prevalent presence of French culture and language in the member country's identity, usually stemming from France's colonial ambitions with other nations in its history. Few of the member states are majority French-speaking, aside from France and its overseas possessions. The modern organization was created in 1970. Its motto is égalité, complémentarité, solidarité, alluding to France's motto. Started as a small club of northern French-speaking countries, the Francophonie has since evolved into a global organization whose numerous branches cooperate with its member states in the fields of culture, science, economy, justice, and peace.