French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday urged Algeria to join the International Organisation of the Francophonie (OIF) and invited his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika to attend the next francophone summit. “It would be very good news if President Bouteflika accepts to take part in the Quebec summit of this year,” said President Sarkozy, who had come to attend the events marking the International Day of the Francophonie near Paris. “President Bouteflika who is a big friend took part in the Beirut summit in 2002 and in 2004 in Ouagadougou,” the French leader recalled. He further announced a significant assistance from France to improve education in Africa. “France will support the improvement of teachers’ skills in Africa. OIF will implement a new distance learning initiative for teachers in Africa and the Caribbean,” President Sarkozy said. Noting that the Francophonie “often suffers a lack of image”, he called on the OIF to better stick to the peoples’ concerns. “I suggest that the Francophonie should do everything to give the world the image of an organisation aware of peoples’ concerns according to the current needs for effectiveness and results,” he said in his address delivered in the presence of OIF Secretary General Abdou Diouf. Panapress.
