Puducherry legislative assembly becomes member of Parliamentary Assembly de la Francophonie

PUDUCHERRY: The legislative assembly of the Union territory of Puducherry was granted membership in the Parliamentary Assembly de la Francophonie (APF).

APF, established in 1967 as an interparliamentary organization, brings together 92 members from parliaments or interparliamentary organizations from five continents.

Public works minister K Lakshminarayan addressed the APF president and parliamentarians when it convened its 49th session in Montreal, Canada, on July 8 and 9 to mark the territory’s membership.

“This membership marks a historic turning point for our territory, which is thus fully part of the great family of the French-speaking world. It represents recognition of our rich cultural and linguistic heritage and reflects our unwavering desire to promote the values of peace, solidarity, fraternity and democracy, which are at the heart of the French-speaking world,” said Lakshminarayanan.

The minister said Puducherry, as a former French colony, shares a common history and values with the members of la Francophonie.

“The French language inherited from our colonial past of more than 300 years remains today a living and dynamic language, spoken by a significant part of the local population and by the Pondicherry diaspora in the four corners of the world,” he said.

He pointed out that French is an official language in the Union territory. “We want to play an active role within this international body and contribute to defending the interests of French-speaking people worldwide. We are convinced that our experience and our knowhow will be able to enrich the work of the Parliamentary Assembly. We are also committed to learning from others in this institution and sharing our best practices,” he said.

Lakshminarayanan said the accession of the legislative assembly of Puducherry to APF was a new beginning for the territory.

“This is an opportunity for us to open up to the world, strengthen our ties with other French-speaking countries and promote the values that unite us. I am convinced that this membership will bear fruit and contribute to a more prosperous and brighter future for Pondicherry and the entire French-speaking region,” he said.