NNA - The planting of three Lebanese cedar trees marked the inauguration of the "Francophonie Garden" in the Retz Forest, adjacent to the International Academy of the French Language in Villers-Côtterets.

Donated by the Lebanese Embassy in Paris, this gesture came as part of the efforts to strengthen fraternal Lebanese-French relations. The event was attended by French officials, embassy staff, and members of the Lebanese expatriate community.

Acting Chargé d'Affaires Ziad Taan thanked the organizers of the "Francophonie Garden" project, expressing his pride that "Lebanese cedar trees are the first trees planted to inaugurate the garden, just as Lebanon was one of the founding countries of the International Organization of La Francophonie in 1970."

Taan noted that "these trees planted today are part of a series of activities to plant cedar trees in several parks across French cities."

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