Latest news with #InternationalFrancophonieDay
Ya Libnan
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Lebanon remains a bridge between East and West, President Aoun tells ambassadors of Francophone countries
Photo: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is shown with ambassadors of Francophone countries at the Baabda Palace Lebanese President Joseph Aoun affirmed to a delegation of ambassadors from Francophone countries that Lebanon has always been and will continue to be a bridge between East and West. He emphasized that French remains the country's second language after Arabic, describing it as a language of culture, dialogue, modernity, and values. On the occasion of International Francophonie Day, Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's deep ties to Francophone values, emphasizing that being Francophone goes beyond language to embody principles of reason, sovereignty, and individual freedoms. 'We are Francophones, and to be Francophone means standing with reason against all madness, and with the citizen, not the ruler,' Aoun stated. Aoun further elaborated on the philosophical and political foundations of Francophonie, highlighting the balance between faith and secularism. 'To be Francophone means being both believers and secular at the same time—giving to God what is God's and to Caesar what is Caesar's,' he said, referencing the principle of separating religious and political authority. Expanding on the political ideals associated with Francophone thought, Aoun stressed the importance of state sovereignty and democratic principles. Francophone countries are those that designate French as an official language or whose people primarily speak French. Lebanon's status as a Francophone country stems from the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon after World War I , which led to the French language becoming a second language of instructions After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Lebanon and Syria were placed under a French mandate by the League of Nations, giving France control over their foreign mandate led to significant French cultural and linguistic influence, including the establishment of French educational institutions and the promotion of French as a language of instruction and administration. The roots of French influence can be traced back to the 19th century when French Jesuits established schools and Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, further solidifying the French presence.
LBCI
20-03-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
President Aoun on International Francophonie Day: Being Francophone means standing with reason and the citizen
On the occasion of International Francophonie Day, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's deep ties to Francophone values, emphasizing that being Francophone goes beyond language to embody principles of reason, sovereignty, and individual freedoms. "We are Francophones, and to be Francophone means standing with reason against all madness, and with the citizen, not the ruler," Aoun stated. Aoun further elaborated on the philosophical and political foundations of Francophonie, highlighting the balance between faith and secularism. "To be Francophone means being both believers and secular at the same time—giving to God what is God's and to Caesar what is Caesar's," he said, referencing the principle of separating religious and political authority. Expanding on the political ideals associated with Francophone thought, Aoun stressed the importance of state sovereignty and democratic principles. "Being Francophone means upholding the absolute, permanent, and indivisible sovereignty of your state, as per Bodin's principle; embracing the spirit of laws to combat the tyranny of any authority, as Montesquieu advocated; recognizing the people's will as the foundation of the social contract, as Rousseau envisioned; and defending freedom of thought and expression, as Voltaire championed," he explained. Lebanon, a longstanding member of the International Organization of La Francophonie, has historically maintained strong cultural and diplomatic ties with the Francophone world.
MTV Lebanon
20-03-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
President Aoun: We Stand with the Francophonie and Reason
President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, confirmed: "We are only connected to Lebanon, but we are indeed with the Francophonie, which is a matter of belonging to a civilization, and it means standing with reason in the face of madness." He added, on International Francophonie Day: "To be Francophone means to stand with the full sovereignty of your country, indivisible, and to be both believers and secularists." You can watch his full speech in the attached video.
National News
20-03-2025
- Politics
- National News
President marking Francophonie Day: "Being Francophone Is a Commitment to Reason, Beauty, and Human Rights"
NNA - On the occasion of International Francophonie Day, President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, on Thursday emphasized that being Francophone is not merely about language but about embracing a profound intellectual and cultural tradition. "To be Francophone is to stand with reason against madness, like Descartes, with aesthetics against ugliness, like Paul Valéry, and with the citizen against the ruler, as enshrined in the first declaration of human rights," Aoun stated. The President underscored that Lebanon's Francophonie is not an affiliation with another country but a commitment to a system of values and thought—a true epistemic identity. He highlighted the influence of figures such as Jean Bodin, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire in shaping the principles of sovereignty, law, and freedom that resonate deeply with Lebanon's historical and intellectual heritage.
