I had every intention of wearing my Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres medal this year but decided against it as after some reflection I thought it would seem too much like showing off. I did see at least a couple of people wearing their OBE or other decoration at the Queen’s birthday Garden Party so that is where the idea sprung from. Next year perhaps. 

The French Ambassador and Madame Marie Vanderpoorter manage to create a relaxed ambience at Zebbug, for although His Excellency is a courtly gentleman he manages to make everyone feel at home. There are always familiar faces at this reception and one looks forward to seeing friends and acquaintances at least this once a year and exchanging the latest news. 

Chev. Anthony Demajo introduced me to a Swiss friend of his who has been living in Malta for some seven years, also a Knight of Malta and a philanthropist, and who, in his youth was a Swiss Guard at the Vatican for two years. They are not paid it appears and selected with great care. Someone else I met is packing up and setting up a charity in Madagascar with her partner who lost a son in a traffic accident. In fact her daughter is already there and doing the ground work. Madagascar was our neighbour when I lived in Mauritius. It is bigger than France and has natural resources such as semi-precious stones but is also very underdeveloped and rats are everywhere we were told by friends who had visited. Clearly, there is much to be done by those brave enough to go and live there.

Our President looked most elegant in a midnight blue ensemble. Her Aide-de-Camp is an army Lieutenant and seemed most efficient.

 

******

 

Ambassador Vanderpoorter, in his speech, delivered in excellent English remarked on the beautiful summer’s evening ‘which we owe to the Revolutionaries who waited until mid-July to overthrow the absolutism in France in the 18th century’ . It was a lovely evening and mercifully cool for mid-July. 

He said that the strongest bond is human and that it grows stronger everyday as more and more French citizens live and work in Malta and Gozo where they benefit from the warm welcome of the Maltese people.  ‘Just as the many Maltese families who settled in France at the beginning of the Sixties after leaving Algeria or Tunisia, the French community in Malta contributes to a greater understanding of our two cultures in their contemporary forms.’ Tourism, he said, also contributes to this improved understanding and the number of French travellers to Malta increases steadily. France is the fourth largest market when it comes to Malta’s tourism industry ‘even though French people are less inclined than others to travel abroad. That proves how appealing Malta is for the French!’

His Excellency expressed the hope that more Maltese would visit France especially the provincial towns or regions such as the Basque country, Britanny and Normandy ‘where we have just commemorated the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.’

Mr Vanderpoorter then went on to mention that apart from the huge contribution of the French knights and Grand Masters there was also the assistance that Malta had provided to the French armed forces during the First World War. ‘Several French Navy ships were berthed with the Royal Navy in the Grand Harbour. Many French sailors and soldiers from the Armée d’Orient were treated in Maltese hospitals. Some of them died here. One hundred and twenty French sailors and soldiers were buried in Maltese cemeteries and we honour their memory every year on 11th November. These are the reasons why a Guard of Honour bearing the Maltese emblem was part of the march on the Champs Elysées in Paris earlier this morning, a ceremony where the Maltese government was represented by Dr Emanuel Mallia.’

 

*****

 

His Excellency then went to talk the ‘significant political convergence’ which binds our two countries. Although some points of disagreement remain however the two countries share the same views on many issues. Mr Vanderpoorter mentioned in particular the desire for stability in Africa and work done within the European Union. ‘The Italian presidency, which has just taken up its position, raised several priorities that also represent shared objectives both for France and Malta: improving Mediterranean cooperation, providing support to the States of the Southern shore and enhancing control of irregular migrations,’ His Excellency said.

He also pointed out that both countries are bound by common economic interests. Several French companies have opened active branches and France is Malta’s fourth largest economic partner although work on this is continually in progress with the Embassy in close cooperation with the Maltese-French Chamber of Commerce and the UbiFrance office in Milan which has jurisdiction over Malta. He spoke of the assets which Maalta has when it comes to business and also what France can offer besides luxuries and perfumery. France has an innovative economy which could provide solutions in specific fields such as transportation, waste management, energy and renewable energy. He then spoke of the shared interest in culture which both countries enjoy and apart from the fact that French music of the 20th century is always well received by the Maltese audiences some French plays have also been translated into Maltese with great success over the last two years.

After some words in French to his compatriots in which he mentioned in particular the teaching of French in schools here, notably at San Andrea and Chiswick House School, he then went on to thank those companies who sponsored the reception. A toast was then proposed to the President of Malta, the Maltese nation and the friendship between our two countries.

President Coleiro then went on to give her speech after which the animated conversations and general enjoyment of those present were resumed.

 

[email protected]