Switzerland to participate in the XIVth Summit of La Francophonie in Kinshasa

By Switzerland - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Switzerland to participate in the XIVth Summit of La Francophonie in Kinshasa
Switzerland to participate in the XIVth Summit of La Francophonie in Kinshasa

BERN, Switzerland, September 21, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Federal Council decided on Friday to appoint the Vice-President of the Federal Council, Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer, to head the delegation which will attend the XIVth Summit of La Francophonie. The Summit takes place in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on 13-14 October 2012. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will head the Swiss delegation participating in the 28th session of the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie on 11 October 2012.


The XIVth Summit of La Francophonie will be devoted to a theme proposed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): “Francophonie, environmental and economic challenges in the face of global governance”. The Declaration of Kinshasa prepared on this theme is to be adopted by the Heads of State and Heads of Government at the end of the Summit. It aims to promote the solidarity of French-speaking countries in efforts to combat poverty and organised crime. The Declaration will also reiterate the support of La Francophonie for countries affected by natural disasters, and a commitment to combating climate change.


The Heads of State and of Government of the member states of La Francophonie selected the DR Congo to host the XIVth Summit during the XIIth Summit in Quebec in October 2008. This choice was confirmed at the Montreux Summit in October 2010, and again at the 27th session of the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie held in Paris in December 2011. The Summit of the Heads of State and of Government is the supreme body of La Francophonie, being made up of the leaders of nations that have the French language or values in common. It meets every two years in one of the member states.


Since October 2010, Switzerland has held the presidency of the Summit of La Francophonie as part of the follow-up of the Montreux Summit. It is committed to strengthening the role of La Francophonie in international relations and as a forum for discussion of the major challenges facing global governance.