The Franchophonic summit to be held in Beirut next Autumn

The French President Jacques Chirac has stressed for the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud that the 9th Franchophonic summit will be held in Beirut in the Autumn of 2002 because the Franchophonic states have chosen the Lebanese capital Beirut to ensure its welcome of peace, reconciliation and re-building in Lebanon, as well as keeping firm links between the Franchophonic and Arabic cultures, noting that it is not fair nor just to reconsider this decision.

In a message he sent to his Lebanese counterpart, Chirac praised the arrangements made by the Lebanese authorities in preparations for the summit.

He said he sought to be in Lebanon by the end of the current month ( October ) to celebrate the dialogue between Franchophonic cultures, but the international situation emerged as a result of the attacks at the US " has turned upside- down our plans" and France regrets the postponement of the summit.

The French President stressed that the tragedy of September 11 and its consequences have stressed more than any time before the urgent need to maintain a dialogue among cultures.