NNA - The Cultural Committee of the Municipality of Tripoli, in cooperation with the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), organized Saturday a tour of Tripoli's old souks to discover the city's treasures and history, marking the Francophonie Month.

The tour began at the Rashid Karami Municipal Cultural Center, with the participation of six ambassadors from France, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Armenia.

Partaking in the tour was also the Regional Director of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), Jean-Noël Ballieu, and the representative of the International Association of La Francophonie (OIF), Levon Amirjanian, alongside the deans and directors of most universities operating in the North (Lebanese, Balamand, Jesuit, Arab, and Lebanese-French) and several students and civil society activists.

In a welcoming word, Francophone Digital Center Director Ziad Naja spoke about the Francophone activities organized in Tripoli and Lebanon.

Ballieu, in turn, gave a briefing about the AUF and Amirjanian spoke about the OIF.

French Ambassador Hervé Magro then addressed the attendees on behalf of the partaking Francophone ambassadors. He touched on Tripoli's "historic relations with France and the positive change taking place in Lebanon and the region," emphasizing "standing by the city and supporting it at this stage."

For his part, the Mayor of Tripoli Riad Yamak welcomed the attendees and spoke about the values ​​of Ramadan and the city's transformation during this holy month. He also touched on Tripoli's history, its pioneering and cultural role, and the capabilities and facilities it possesses that can improve the Lebanese economy as a whole.

The Mayor also spoke about the city's decline after independence and the injustice it suffered at the hands of the Lebanese state and its authorities.

==========R.Sh.