Your trusted source

Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on Tuesday took part in and delivered remarks at a UN Security Council open debate on the role of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) in the context of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations. Armenia is chairing the Summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie.

The Armenian foreign policy chief attached importance to the organization of a discussion on the cooperation between the United Nations and the OIF and expressed gratitude to the assistant-secretary general for Africa and the OIF secretary-general for their extremely important speeches.

Mnatsakanyan also highly assessed the role of Niger which had initiated the debate and in the capital of which the Agency of Cultural and Technical Cooperation was born in 1970, the precursor of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year, the Foreign Ministry’s press service reported.

"Fifty years after its establishment, La Francophonie stands as a powerful platform for multilateral cooperation, united around the French language, the fundamental values of peace, democracy, respect for human rights, equality between men and women,” the minister said in his speech.

“The relations between the United Nations and La Francophonie are hinged on a number of role-players sharing common values, united by a common desire to work for the strengthening of peace and international security, as well as the determination to fight terrorism and to prevent genocides and crimes against humanity.”

The Armenian official highlighted the holding of such a debate during the current global health-related humanitarian and economic crisis, which threatens to disrupt the consolidation of the society. Mnatsakanyan described the discussion within the framework of the UN Security Council as a unique call to take action and a test of universal endurance and collective capacity.

“At a time when the negative impacts of the crisis are more severe on developing countries and the more vulnerable population, the United Nations and La Francophonie need to reaffirm their commitment to promoting peace and cooperation, solidarity and coexistence. This is a challenge for both organizations and we must work on creating more effective global governance,” the FM said.

“In this regard, we strongly support the UN secretary-general's call for a global ceasefire, as well as the relevant UN Security Council resolution, reaffirming that there is no place for force and the threat of force in the settlement of conflicts.

“We are also concerned over the rise of hate speech, which was especially evident during this health crisis. Today, more than ever, it is important to underline our commitment to tolerance, respect for human rights and the values of cultural diversity. Despite the tremendous efforts of the multilateral system, we continue to face armed clashes, destabilizing military escalations and manifestations of hate speech at the highest political level, including in our close vicinity,” Mnatsakanyan stressed.

Concluding his speech, the foreign minister reaffirmed Armenia's commitment to the promotion of cooperation between the two organizations, expressing confidence that the cooperation will be further strengthened though the discussion, as well as the joint efforts of the UN and OIF chiefs, opening up new promising prospects.