Report

The parliamentary delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) has the honour of presenting its report on its parliamentary mission to New York, New York, from February 21 to 23, 2024. The Canadian delegation was composed of Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament, President of the APF and Chair of the Canadian Branch, and Julie Pelletier, Administrative Secretary of the Canadian Branch.

Background

On January 31, 2023, the APF Bureau tasked APF President Francis Drouin with launching the process of obtaining observer status for the APF at the United Nations (UN). Since then, during various missions to New York, Mr. Drouin has had several meetings with permanent representatives to the UN to explain the APF’s approach and how it could contribute to the UN’s work. In particular, Mr. Drouin visited New York on an exploratory mission in March 2023, to deliver a speech at the meeting of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors to the UN in June 2023, and for the high-level week of the 78^th session of the General Assembly in September 2023.

Parliamentary Mission to the United Nations

The first objective of the February 2024 mission was to meet the representatives of the States that had agreed to sponsor the APF’s application to the UN: H.E. Cornel Feruta (Romania) and Kevin Mead, advisor (Canada).

The second objective was to consolidate the list of States likely to formally support the APF’s application. The delegation had the opportunity to speak with several permanent representatives (PRs), chargés d’affaires and legal advisors at the United Nations: Fabian Oddone (Argentina); Nyanid Zacharie (Cameroon); Mark Simonoff and Dorothy P. Patton (United States); Diarra Dime-Labille (France); H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, PR (Morocco); H.E. Mr. Zenon Mukongo Ngay, PR (Democratic Republic of Congo); H.E. Mr. Diamane Diome, PR and Demba Camara (Senegal); and H.E. Mr. Dang Hoang Giang, PR (Vietnam).

During the various meetings, Mr. Drouin outlined the APF’s priority issues, promoted the added value of collaboration between States and parliamentarians, and discussed the current international situation and its impact on UN debates.

Mr. Drouin also spoke with the permanent observer of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), H.E. Ifigeneia Kontoleontos (Greece), about the OIF’s scope of action at the UN, and in particular about how it promotes the interests of the Organization’s member States and governments in international fora.

Respectfully submitted,

Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament
Chair, Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie