On June 9, in the Ministry of Foreign Affaires, Minister Edward Nalbandian and the Ambassador of France to Armenia Serge Smessow signed Memorandum on the launch of the program on training French language among Armenian officials. Stéphane Lopez, the representative of the Secretary General of the International Organization of Francophonie (the Secretary General of the Organization Abdou Diouf has signed the memorandum in Paris) and the Ambassadors of the OIF member states attended the ceremony.

According to Memorandum in the course of three years 50 Armenian officials will be trained to improve their knowledge of French language. The program will be carried out with the support of the governments of the Republic of France, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Belgium French-speaking Community.

Such Memorandum has been signed with the OIF 17 member states, 15 of them are European Union member states.

Edward Nalbandian thanked the OIF leadership and the authorities of the states that support the implementation of the program and stressed that after becoming the associated member of the organization in 2008 Armenia has actively been participating in the programs carried out within the frameworks of the Francophonie.

Stephane Lopez on behalf of the OIF Secretary General Abdou Diouf welcomed the signature of the Memorandum and stressed that by this program the cooperation of the OIF with Armenia reaches new level that creates new opportunities for the relationships with the French-speaking world. He added that French language continues to hold its positions in international arena and it is an official language in several International Organizations.