International Organisation of La Francophonie
International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) comprises 88 members (54 full members, 7 associate members and 27 observers[1]) brought together by the use and fostering of the French language. These countries use French as their national language, an official language, a language of international communication and as a working language. The Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT), founded in 1970, transformed into the International Organization of La Francophonie in 1986. The organization's motto is "equality, complementarity and solidarity". The OIF is able to attend the UN Security Council sessions, in observer status. La Francophonie sees its role in promoting cultural and linguistic diversity and supporting the study of the French language, but also in promoting peace, democracy and human rights, and developing cooperation in the function of sustainable development and solidarity. The OIF is headquartered in Paris, with branches in Libreville (Gabon), Lomé (Togo) and Hanoi (Vietnam). The OIF has representations (offices) in Brussels, to the EU, and in Addis Ababa, at the seat of the African Union (AU).
The highest decision-making body in the OIF is the Summit of Heads of State and Government, while other decisions are made at the Ministerial Conference and the Permanent Council (permanent representatives of heads of state or government, accredited to the OIF).
In addition to these bodies, the organizational structure of the International Organisation of La Francophonie includes the Secretary General, the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) and direct "operators" of La Francophonie such as the Association of Francophone Universities (AUF), TV5 - international francophone television, International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF) and permanent ministerial conferences of La Francophonie such as the Conference of Ministers of Education and the Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers.
Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo from Rwanda is Secretary General of the OIF.
With the aim of gradually meeting the requirements for full membership, the Republic of Serbia was granted the status of an associate member of La Francophonie at the 17th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Yerevan, on 11 October 2018, on the basis of dossier/study it had submitted (Serbia was an observer in the OIF since 2006).
Serbia has continued to enhance its cooperation with the International Organization of La Francophonie aiming to promote the OIF values, in accordance with its foreign policy priorities, but also to promote the use of the French language.
Therefore, in February 2021, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted a Decision establishing a Working Group for Cooperation with the International Organization of La Francophonie, focused on enhancing the teaching and use of the French language in Serbia. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković is President of the Working Group, and its members include representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development; Ministry of Culture and Information; Ministry of Youth and Sports; Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government; Ministry of Environmental Protection; Ministry for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue; Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure; Ministry of Family Welfare and Demography, Ministry of European Integration and the National Academy of Public Administration.
Ms. Antonia Jutronić is the national correspondent for La Francophonie at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Official website of the International Organisation of La Francophonie: https://www.francophonie.org/
Contacts
The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Paris is responsible for the International Organisation of La Francophonie at the working level: http://paris.mfa.gov.rs/lat/
Contact at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia: Europe Department, Phone: 306 8326, 306 8274, E-mail: oev@mfa.rs
[1] In addition to states, territorial entities can also become members of La Francophonie.