to Promote the French Language and Cultural Diversity

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the pleasure to serve as the 2011-2012 president of the Francophonie Festival, a major cultural event in Washington, DC, that features the great majority of the 75 francophone and francophile countries and governments that are part of the O.I.F. (Organisation internationale de la Francophonie): 56 members countries and 19 observers whose main objectives are: - to promote the French language and cultural diversity - to promote peace, democracy and human rights - to support education, training, higher education and research - to increase cooperation and promote sustainable development

I am grateful and honored for the opportunity to address your prestigious organization.

The Festival de la Francophonie in Washington, DC, goes back to 2001. It was created by la Maison Française – the cultural arm of the French Embassy. It found help along the way. First of all, from the cultural attachés and representatives of all the embassies involved.

Today we are proud to count 4 key partners: - the Alliance Française of Washington - the French-American Cultural Foundation - The Library of Congress - The Smithsonian Associates

The Festival, that over the years has become the most important one of its kind in the United States, could not thrive without major sponsors: TV5 Monde, RFI – Radio France International, Dish Network, Campus France and the OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie)

Together, we set up a rich and diverse cultural program throughout the month of March and the first half of April. We offer theatre, cinema, music, concerts, sport (a soccer tournament), program for children, literary salons, gastronomy events, art exhibits… The complete program is available on the following website: www.francophoniedc.org

In order to reach out even further, we decided four years ago to create two national prizes to officially recognize and reward people who are ambassadors of the French language and the francophone cultures.

Both prize recipients are selected by “ Le Groupe de Ambassadeurs francophones”.

Le “Prix Spécial de la Francophonie” highlights a person or an organization from the educational or cultural sector. Three year ago, Mrs. Claudia Bezaka, head of the foreign languages department of the D.C. Public Schools, was honored. In 2010, the prize went to the “French Heritage” teaching program. Last year the Special Prize went to the famous singer-songwriter from Bénin, Angélique Kidjo. The 2012 prize goes to Dr. John Priestley Hutchison, from Boston University, who has dedicated his career to the learning and the teaching of African languages, dialects and cultures

The other prize “Le Grand Prix de la Francophonie” rewards an American citizen who, through reputation and work, contributes to one or more goals of La Francophonie: - to promote the French language and the cultural diversity - to promote peace, democracy and human rights - to support education, training and research - to develop cooperation and sustainable development.

In 2009, the grand prize went to the Honorable Mary Landrieu, Louisiana Senator. In 2010, the prize was awarded to General Jim Jones, National Security Adviser. Last year, Dr. James Hadley Billington, the Librarian of Congress, was honored. The 2012 award prize will be given later in the year to Ambassador Melanne Verveer, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for global women’s issues.

This year, we inaugurated a third prize category prize: that of the teaching of French and French cultures. It went to Madame Donna Gouin, who has dedicated her entire career to the teaching of French in the trend-setting immersion program in Montgomery County, Maryland.

To conclude, being from Belgium - and just chauvinistic enough ! - I cannot reasonably leave out the important objective that the vibrant city of Liège has set for itself: to be chosen by the Paris- based Bureau international des Expositions to host the International Exposition in 2017. What is the link with what has been said? Well, let’s hear it from the Honorable Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of La Francophonie: “The candidacy of Liège is a source of pride for the entire francophone community. I wish that Belgium and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation - so closely associated with dialogue among peoples – be chosen to organize this major rendez-vous of friendship and solidarity.” Please keep Liège in mind when your country is asked to cast its vote next November.

Thank you, and thank you again for the invitation to address the Organization.

Bernard Geenen March 2012