Africa-Press – Seychelles. The strengthening of the regional partnership is at the heart of its priorities
Madame Olivia Berkeley-Christmann is the new ambassador of the Republic of French Seychelles.
She presented her letters of credence to President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House yesterday morning.
Ms. Berkeley-Christmann succeeds Dominique Mas who held this position from October 2019 to September 2022.
In an interview with the local press following her meeting with the Seychellois head of state, the new ambassador described the relationship between the two countries as “excellent”. She praised the work of her predecessors and the French team.
“I am delighted to find here a team motivated to continue working for this excellent relationship and to further develop it, particularly on regional cooperation,” said Ambassador Berkeley-Christmann.
She said that during her mandate, she will translate this excellent relationship into concrete projects and actions, “be it at the regional level in terms of maritime security projects, the fight against drug trafficking, but also to continue to work for the Francophonie, with this language that we share with the Seychelles”.
Ms. Berkeley-Christmann added that she will also develop cooperation in the areas that her predecessor, Mr. Mas, began to develop, notably agriculture, the blue economy, as well as the fight against climate change, which is truly a subject of shared interest with France and this is part of the strategy launched in 2018 by President (Emmanuel) Macron. A great Indo-Pacific strategy, and the Franco-Seychelles relationship is fully inscribed in this partnership,” she said.
The establishment of diplomatic relations between France and the Seychelles dates back to June 29, 1976 and during those years the two countries had cooperation in several fields, namely education, health, tourism, among others.
Before being appointed ambassador to the Seychelles, Ms. Berkeley-Christmann was consul general of France in Düsseldorf, Germany.
She is based in the Seychelles.
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