The Malta Independent on Sunday
The French connection goes from strength to strength
Bastille Day arrived this year, too, and it seems to me that with each succeeding year the French and Maltese have a better understanding of each other.
Astrid Vella offered me a lift and I accepted with alacrity. What a luxury to be driven by someone who is good company too. She always has some amusing anecdote or a tale about the environment on which she has her pulse firmly placed. On the way to Zebbug she received a phonecall from one of FFA’s volunteers – yes, the flats in Lija were going ahead; the project could not be stopped yet another blow to a typical Maltese town. Money and greed had won, once again in spite of all the efforts put in.
This year the arrival of guests to the reception had been staggered – some were invited at 6.30pm and some at 7.30pm – a good idea so that we did not all arrive at the same time.
I am happy to say that security at the French residence was very strict that evening but at the same time sad that our lives have taken such a turn when everyone is under suspicion.
It was a beautiful summer’s evening – no humidity and no need for fans as we navigated the pathways of the garden and sipped Moët. If you manage to walk down the stairs safely there is a very attractive and spacious pool area where the ambassador had a surprise for us – an Amorino ice-cream bar. Amorino, a French company created by two Italian friends in Paris and now in Malta. Sponsors are essential on evenings such as this and Her Excellency mentioned others apart from Amorino.
The ambassador is a woman of action and energy who lives very much in the present. Extremely active she seems to be able to do several things at the same time.
Her speech was typical of her personality. Quoting Dr Vanni Xuereb, she said she was ‘going to abstain from rehashing the story of Maltese-French relationship since the middle ages’ that evening. ‘Let’s speak of the here and now.’ And that is exactly what she did.
All this was happening before the massacre in Nice had occurred. Little did we, in a festive mood, realize that another terrible tragedy was soon to take place, and on Bastille Day too, when people were out celebrating, many with their families.
Her Excellency said that according to recent polls a vast majority of citizens in Malta value the positive contribution of the EU to their life. “A stable and prosperous country in a region – I think of Libya, so close to your shores and yours hearts – which has gone through many upheavels.” She commented about Britain leaving the EU and said it was not only Malta who was shocked, “Do not underestimate the shockwaves this news has sent to France either.” An estimated 400,000 citizens from the UK live in France; the French community in the UK is assessed at 380,000. There are business interests, too, and “The bond and the tunnel shall remain.”
H.E. mentioned Malta’s Presidency of the European Union which is imminent; she said that France is looking forward to Malta’s presidency and also for its guidance on issues about climate changes. The French Embassy, like most embassies is striving to be a green embassy “Our objective is for our premises to be plastic free – not easy.” It has also chosen energy efficient vehicles – in fact there were two electric cars outside the residence – a Peugeot and Renault, both sponsors of the reception.
H.E. then spoke of V18 and the structural partnership which has been created between French and Maltese entities and the several initiatives already taken. She said that Malta’s relationship with France is many faceted and there is a close political relationship. Apart from anything else the French president had inaugurated, at the Addolorata Cemetry, the first monument to French soldiers who died in WWII in Malta after their ships had been sunk.
When it comes to commerce France is Malta’s third commercial partner. “The French-Maltese Chamber of Commerce is working non-stop to ensure that trade and investments flourish even further… When it comes to French companies apart from the ‘heavies’ there are also dynamic startups” and here she mentioned two, Ooh La La!! and High Five. At her request the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be setting up a commercial department in Malta for one year to start off with. She then mentioned a number of factors which attract French companies to these islands.
Her Excellency ended her speech by saying, “France is a strong resilient country, the third largest economy in the world, a country which can suffer from terrorist attacks and still offer space for political and social debate and organize a commendable euro championship….”
The French navy, ‘”heavily involved in search and rescue operations and fighting smugglers in the area, has been welcome in the Grand Harbour on many occasions this year. Ten ports of call in one year!’
She then addressed her 2000 or so compatriots in French and appealed to those who were not yet registered at the embassy to register as this was important in case of lost documents.
The Acting President followed with a short speech and said how against all protocol she had walked to the French residence from her home in Zebbug.
Then it was time for toasts and the national anthems.
Another Bastille Day went by, a pleasant evening of catching up with friends and acquaintances, but at the end of this one there was a tragedy happening in Nice we knew nothing about in Malta until we got home.
It is a mad world we are living in but let’s do our best to keep positive.