Qatar participates in 37th session of OIF conference
Qatar has participated in the 37th session of the Ministerial Conference of the International Organisation Internationale de La Francophonie (OIF), held in Paris via virtual technology, under the chairmanship of Tunisia as the host country of the 18th Francophonie Summit, scheduled to be organised in the Island of Djerba in 2021.
Qatar’s delegation was led by Qatar’s ambassador to France and representative to OIF, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani.
The 37th session of the conference discusses ways to enhance cooperation and co-ordination between Francophone countries with the aim of combating the coronavirus pandemic. It also discussed a number of initiatives and co-operation activities within the framework of the organisation, especially the Francophone Economic Strategy for the period 20202025, as well as the activities of the Women Support Fund.
Sheikh Ali’s participation in the 37th session of the Ministerial Conference confirms Qatar’s keenness to participate in various ministerial summits, conferences and meetings held by the organisation at all levels, in compliance with the values of Francophonie. Qatar looks forward to participating in the next Francophone summit to be held in Tunisia. At the beginning of the conference, the Secretary-General of the OIF Louise Mushikiwabo presented the developments of the political and diplomatic situation in the Francophone space and the initiatives that she has taken to modernise Francophonie and confront the coronavirus pandemic.
She emphasised on the need for solidarity and strong pluralism, presented a draft resolution on coexistence during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the post-Covid world and highlighted her repeated calls to reduce the debt of the African continent.
She also presented the new economic strategy draft in the Francophone space and the organisation’s efforts to enhance its impact on the international arena, as well as strengthening the place of the French language in the work of international organisations and confirmed the launch of the new Solidarity Fund for Women project: ‘La Francophonie avec Elles’, which aims to support women in vulnerable situations in the Francophone space.