Remarks by President of the General Assembly
H.E. Philemon Yang
Meeting with Group of Francophone Permanent Representative “La Francophonie”
December 4, 2024
CR 12- UN HQS
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I begin by warmly thanking His Excellency Zénon Mukongo, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo, in his capacity as President of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors of La Francophonie, and Her Excellency Ifigeneia Kontoleontos, Permanent Observer of the International Organisation of la Francophonie, for kindly inviting me to this event.
French is spoken by over 321 million people worldwide, making it a truly global language.
Within the United Nations, it holds a unique position as one of the six official languages and one of the two working languages of our Organization.
This broad representation underscores the critical role of the French language in advancing multilateralism.
I also would like to applaud the vital work of La Francophonie in promoting the French language.
Moreover, I praise its efforts to foster cultural and linguistic diversity; advance peace, democracy, and human rights; support education, training, higher education, and research; and enhance economic cooperation to strengthen sustainable development.
These efforts align closely with and complement the objectives of the United Nations.
Excellencies,
Every two years, a resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie is submitted to the General Assembly.
This cooperation is founded on both organizations’ shared commitment to promoting multilingualism as a powerful tool for fostering dialogue, inclusion, and mutual understanding.
Multilingualism enables the United Nations to engage more meaningfully with the world’s diverse communities, foster cross-cultural dialogue, and advance multilateralism on a global scale.
The commitment to multilingualism, cultural diversity, and inclusivity—values at the heart of the Francophonie—resonates deeply with the core principles of the United Nations.
Excellencies,
The theme I have chosen for this year is “Unity in Diversity, for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity for everyone, everywhere.”
Multilingualism embodies every element of this theme, which is why I have made it a key priority of my presidency.
Indeed, multilingualism resonates deeply with me as a native of Cameroon, a country with over 250 languages and two official ones: English and French.
Multilingualism enhances communication among people from diverse cultural backgrounds, fostering mutual respect and understanding.
It helps break down cultural barriers and contributes to peaceful coexistence.
To demonstrate my commitment to this principle, I have established a Task Force on Multilingualism within my office.
This taskforce will advise me throughout the session on how we can better integrate multilingualism into the work of the 79th session of the General Assembly and into my office’s activities.
I will be grateful for your availability to interact, in due course, with this task force to advance its work and objectives.
It is worth emphasizing that French is a widely spoken language across Africa, a continent central to my priorities this session.
I have engaged with key stakeholders, including the Africa Group, to explore meaningful avenues for collaboration.
In the same spirit, I warmly invite members of La Francophonie to actively participate in all ongoing work and processes of the General Assembly.
Excellencies,
I am confident that through continued dialogue, collaboration, and mutual respect, La Francophonie will remain a vital partner in the United Nations’ efforts to build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.
I regard the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie as a key partner in advancing the objectives of multilingualism and diversity.
I look forward to learning more today about your initiatives and exploring opportunities to deepen our collaboration during this session.
I would like to encourage you all to move forward with unity and resolve, and to further promote an inclusive, multilingual United Nations that reflects the diversity and aspirations of the world we serve.
Thank you.
Media Contacts
Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: + 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations M: +1 917 3614990, mariam.shaikh@un.org
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