By Abdulaziz Hammad and Mahamat Youssouf Zeni Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The French Consulate General hosted the closing ceremony of the 27th gathering of the Francophonie in Saudi Arabia at the residence of the consul general here on Saturday with the presence of a large number of diplomats, dignitaries and members of the French-speaking communities. France"s Consul General Mostafa Mihraje opened the ceremony by thanking the guests and appreciating these great cultural efforts reflecting the cultures of the participant countries and their people, as well as the consular staff, the French schools and all others who contributed to the success of this monthlong Francophonie cultural event. This closing ceremony showcased the cultural wealth of the different francophone countries that participated in the event, such as France, Lebanon, Ivory Coast, Chad, Switzerland, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Burkina Faso. Many countries presented folk dances, traditional cuisine and cultural heritage. The ceremony ended with a variety of folkloric performances of great value. The 27th gathering of the Francophone in Saudi Arabia is conducted by member states of the International Organization of the Francophone. This year the celebrations contained a wide variety of activities such as movie screenings, literary lectures, musical concerts, sporting championships and historical conferences. The International Organization of the Francophone is a global foundation whose members have the French language as the first or the second official language. Furthermore, the 84 member countries share many common values. The organization contributes to the prevention of conflicts within French-speaking countries, promoting peaceful coexistence and cultural diversity.
