On 10th January, Gilles Tonelli, Government Counselor-Minister of Foreign Relations and Cooperation, presented his wishes to the Diplomatic and Consular Corps accredited in the Principality.
The ceremony was attended by Serge Telle, Minister of State and Georges Lisimachio, Chief of Staff of the Prince.
After thanking the Ambassadors, Mrs Marine de Carne-Trecesson, Ambassador of France, Mr Cristiano Gallo, Ambassador of Italy, the Ambassador of the Order of Malta and the Foreign Consuls to Monaco for the actions carried out in 2018, the Councilor of Government returned on the highlights that marked the year.
He notably mentioned the visit of the Sovereign Prince to Burkina Faso on the occasion of the inauguration of the training centre of the Red Cross of Loumbila. His meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping and the arrival of the President of Cape Town Green in Monaco.
Gilles Tonelli recalled that the Principality is represented abroad by 16 Ambassadors accredited to 28 states. And welcomed the accreditation, for the first time in 2018, of an Ambassador of Monaco to the Republic of Malta. Seven new Honorary Consuls have also been appointed:
- Europe (Marseille, Turin, Dusseldorf, Ljubljana)
- America (Atlanta and Valparaiso)
- Oceania with Port Vila in Vanuatu.
To date, the Principality has a network of 138 active Consulates in 80 countries around the world.
Finally, the Government Counselor thanked Mr. Moustapha El-Solh, Honorary Consul of Lebanon, for his commitment in his capacity as President of the ACHM: “Elected in 2009, then re-elected in 2014 at the head of the Association of Honorary Consuls of Monaco, as a Member of the Board of Directors, then as President, Mr. El-Sohl has worked with great dedication and efficiency.”