Culture Minister Rony Araiji has said the Lebanese delegation at the Francophonie Summit, which will be held in Dakar this weekend, is planning to urge participants to reject terrorism in the closing statement.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, Araiji said he and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil will discuss with the representatives of the participating states the threat of terrorism.

“We should send a clear message to the Francophone states and to the entire world about the terrorism that is surrounding us,” he said.

“The Lebanese delegation is keen on having a clause that condemns terrorism, which has spread in the region,” he added.

“The issue is not only about Lebanon,” the minister told An Nahar. “These dangers affect the entire region and the life of its residents.”

During the two-day conference that starts on Saturday, Senegal will host the 15th summit of heads of state and governments of countries which have the French language in common on the theme of “Francophonie’s women and young people: vectors for peace and actors for development.”

But Bassil will head the Lebanese delegation because the country has no head of state since the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's six-year term in May.

Araiji expressed hope that the Francophone states would “reject the clear objectives of terrorism to abolish others.”

He also hoped that the representatives of the participating countries would show commitment to freedom of religion and expression in the region.

“The financial and military support of these countries creates a solid foundation to deter such extremist groups,” he added.

G.K.

H.K.