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On April 24, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis met Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) Boutros Boutros Ghali, former head of the United Nations. During the meeting Lithuania's participation in the OIF was discussed. The OIF fosters the culture of the French-speaking countries and the French language, as well as supports the culture diversity of the world. Lithuania is the only Baltic observer-country of the OIF. The organization has 55 members (49 of them are true members, 2 of them are associated members and 4 of them, including Lithuania, have the observer status). The OIF is the first of all considered linguistic-cultural forum. The participation in the organization creates favourable conditions for cultural and scientific cooperation, youth exchange and learning of foreign languages, especially French. The worldwide space of Francophonie opens to Lithuania new opportunities not only in the plane of multilateral cultural cooperation, but also political-economic and social cooperation. The francophone space also enriches Lithuania with the values and traditions of the multicultural world. Lithuania is the most 'francophone' state in the Baltic region. In the inter-war period, French was taught as a main foreign language in Lithuanian schools. Today French ranks third place among the foreign languages used. In the 1999-2000 school year, French was taught as the first foreign language in 269 schools (21.5 thousand students) and in 138 schools (nearly 6 thousand students) as a second foreign language.