Montreux declaration sheds light for French-speaking nations: OIF chief

Doris Leuthard (C), President of the Swiss Confederation, French President Nicolas Sarkozy(R) and Abdou Diouf, secretary-general of OIF, pose for photos during the 13th summit of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) in the Swiss city of Montreux, Oct. 23, 2010. The Francophone Summit, is held every two years during October 22-24 by the International Organization of the Francophone. The OIF, formed in 1970, has 70 members (56 members states and governments, and 14 observers). Photo:Xinhua

The declaration of the Montreux Francophone Summit, due on Sunday, will enlighten and guide the member countries for the next two years, said the International Organization of the Francophone (OIF) Secretary- General Abdou Diouf on Saturday in Montreux at the biennial gathering of the French-speaking nations.

Speaking to 38 heads of state and government attending the 13th Francophone Summit to be held in Switzerland, Diouf said the world is hitting a bumpy road as a result of economic and financial crisis, whose effects will continue to be felt for many months to come, resulting in food crisis, energy and environmental problems, as well as persistent conflicts, with the most vulnerable ones paying the heaviest price.

"Can we have come out with something special and different, comparing with other international or regional organizations that we have been working with over the past decades?" Diouf asked the attendants.

He called on heads of state and government to respond to his question by mutual trust and assured the Francophonie and its agencies and nongovernmental organizations will continue to act and to strive for innovations.

The summit is being held from Oct. 22 to 24. According to the organizer, 3,000 representatives from some 70 countries, as well as 38 heads of state and government, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, are attended the meeting.

The OIF was created in 1970. Its mission is to embody the active solidarity between its 70 member states and governments (56 members and 14 observers), which together represent over one-third of the United Nations' member states and account for a population of over 870 million people, including 200 million French speakers.