Hanoi: Lebanon will host the summit in 2001

Beirut will host the ninth Francophone summit in 2001, it was unanimously decided on the closing day of the seventh summit in Hanoi, yesterday. The decision was taken after the withdrawal of Haiti and Romania in favor of Lebanon.

French President Jacques Chirac had supported Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's demand to host the summit, by declaring that it would help the Middle East area achieve stability. Before returning to Beirut, Hariri told the reporters that, "The meeting of friendly nations in Lebanon to voice support for our country is important because our country is small in size and part of its territory is occupied. It is important for us to gather as many friends around us as we can."

Canada will host the eighth Francophone summit in 1999.