{"id":19853,"date":"2022-07-22T12:43:45","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T12:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/french-ambassador-lauds-relationship-with-liberia"},"modified":"2022-07-22T13:00:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T13:00:26","slug":"french-ambassador-lauds-relationship-with-liberia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/french-ambassador-lauds-relationship-with-liberia","title":{"rendered":"French Ambassador Lauds Relationship with Liberia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Liberia. <\/strong><\/span>French Ambassador Michael Roux has lauded the long-standing ties between his country and Liberia, saying the two countries have shared values for peace, governed by international law and cooperation that have fostered a friendly relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur actions are therefore converging. Liberia has been taking very clear and firm positions, with constancy, with courage, on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as on the situation of human rights in Central Asia,\u201d Roux said.<\/p>\n

According to him, France and Liberia count among the first republics in the world that were founded on audacious, ambitious and political projects. \u201cThese foundations, the history, the philosophy of the enlightenment, the desire for justice, the love of Liberty, all of these guide our steps today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The French ambassador made these during his opening statement at the celebration of the French National Day on Thursday, July 14, at Club Montserrado in Monrovia.<\/p>\n

In France, the 14th of July commemorates both the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 (symbol of the French revolution), and federation Day of July 14, 1790 (symbol of the National Union).<\/p>\n

Roux added that President George Manneh Weah is famous in France and regularly exchanges views with France\u2019s president, Emmanuel Macron. \u201cThe President knows France and speaks our language. Our heads of state exchange view regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to him, France\u2019s relationship with the Republic of Liberia dates back to the middle of the nineteenth century. “President Joseph Jenkins Roberts was on board of l’Espadon. Then he was received by president Louis Napoleon Bonaparte in 1852. So , 170 years later, what can we say about the French-Liberia relations today? We can agree that this relation drives results \u2014 and could drive more.\u201d<\/p>\n

The elaborate ceremony was graced by government ministers, directors, heads of agencies, the diplomatic community and civil society organizations.Roux recalled that France is not only a political partner to Liberia, but also a development partner, fully supporting the national strategy of the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). \u201cThe French citizens contribute more than 30 million dollars a year to Liberia, through multilateral and bilateral channels.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said since 2018, the French Development Agency has committed \u20ac38 million \u2014 half for education and youth employability \u2014 and supported the fight against Covid-19, by delivering tests, respirators, a generator to the national reference laboratory, and vaccines.<\/p>\n

Roux added that Proparco, AFD’s sister organization for the private sector, is supporting Liberian entrepreneurs to realize their new projects, through the banking sector.<\/p>\n

According to him, French investors are very present in the region, present in Liberia. \u201cMany more could come with the special sense of social responsibility of European companies, bringing capital and employment, bringing technology and vocational training.<\/p>\n

\u201cAFD’s action extends to urban development and rural development,\u201d the Ambassador disclosed. \u201cNew projects are coming for the revival of the rice sector and the protection of forests and biodiversity. France is also an economic partner. Our trade is rising sharply from \u20ac25 million in 2017 to \u20ac235 million in 2021), ” he said.<\/p>\n

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thelma E. Duncan-Sawyer thanked the French government for their continuous support to Liberia and vowed the government’s commitment to protect and promote peace and security.<\/p>\n\r\n