Skopje, 27 February 2024 (MIA) - This year's edition of the Francophonie Month will begin with the screening of Trần Anh Hùng's film The Taste of Things on Friday, March 1, at the Milenium Cinema in Skopje, and will last until the beginning of April.

Director of the Skopje-based French Institute, Hugo Bechtel, told a press conference on Tuesday that this year's program foresees several concerts, films, exhibits, etc. The second edition of the Youth Francophone Parliament, organized by the Parliament of North Macedonia, will be held on March 7. The following day, the Swiss band Hubris will hold a concert at the Laboratorium in Skopje, organized by the Swiss Embassy.

A Francophone Film Week, organized by all embassies of Francophone countries, will be held March 15-22. An expressive reading competition will be held at the Cinematique on March 16 and exhibition “Parisian Reflections 3" will open at the National Gallery Chifte Hammam on March 22. On April 3, there will be a musical evening "Wine and Music" at Concept 37 café, while Nikolas Gardel Trio will perform at the Bitola National Theatre on April 4.

French Ambassador Cyril Baumgartner said that, above all, Francophonie is a language, i.e. the French language, which is spoken by more than 320 million people worldwide, making it the fifth most spoken language in the world.

"The French language is a language of culture, art, lifestyle, and gastronomy. But, it is also a language of law, business and one of EU’s two working languages. A beautiful and precise language used in the business and corporate world, and administration," Baumgartner stressed.

He added that the concept of the Francophonie should be nurtured in North Macedonia, because the language is also taught in schools. There is also a French international school in Skopje, French Institute, and French Alliance in Tetovo and Bitola.

Swiss Ambassador Véronique Hulmann reminded that Switzerland is a full member of the Francophonie.

"Since 1966, Switzerland has been a permanent member and wants to share its experience at the level of multilingualism, promotion of democracy, human rights. The Swiss model nurtures equal values and national cohesion. Recognizing people's identities through language means creating a space to share values of equality, peace and democracy - core values and universal human rights," Hulmann said.

North Macedonia has been a full member of the International Organization of La Francophonie since 2006. ssh/ik/

Photo: MIA