Ambassador of France Mr Nicolas Galey, Federal Minister for Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan, Director for Asia at Foreign Ministry of France, Mr Benoit Guidee, Senator Sherry Rehman, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Turkmen Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov, MQM leader Farooq Sattar and Mrs Camélia Galey at a reception marking the French National Day held at the residence of the French ambassador. —Online
Zubair Qureshi
In the backdrop of aggression and conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, posing threat to global peace the French Revolution’s message of respect for human rights is relevant today and as it was 235 years ago when people of France in 1789 stormed the Bastille and proclaimed Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (Déclaration des Droits de l’Homme et du Citoyen).
Ambassador of France, Nicolas Galey said this in his welcome address, Friday evening at a grand reception he and his wife Camélia hosted to celebrate the National Day (Bastille Day) of France.
The event turned out to be a one-of-a-kind party with the colours of the French flag flying high and the French music and food alluring the guests. Federal Minister for Privatization, Abdul Aleem Khan was the chief guest on the occasion while Director for Asia at the French Foreign Ministry, Mr Benoit Guidee was the guest of honour.
Guidee was in Islamabad to attend the national day reception and to meet his Pakistani counterparts as France and Pakistan enjoy deep, friendly bilateral relations continuously expanding in diverse sectors with the passage of time.
Governor Sindh, Kamran Khan Tessori, former Minister for Climate Change Sen Sherry Rehman, Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Turkmenistan Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov, EU Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer, Mr Faisal Zahid Malik, parliamentarians, diplomats (in service and former both), officials of the Foreign Office, armed forces of Pakistan and members of civil society attended the reception and greeted Ambassador Galey on ‘Fête Nationale Française.’
In his speech Chief Guest, Abdul Aleem Khan greeted Ambassador Galey on the National Day of France. Bastille Day marked a glorious milestone in French history and commemorates the resilience and determination of the French people to shape their nation’s destiny, he said.
This year’s national day celebrations coincide with the upcoming Olympic Games starting from July 26 and once again I congratulate you Excellency and the French government on hosting the mega event and wish it a huge success, he said.
France, the minister said, was an important economic and defence partner of Pakistan and Pakistan attached great value to cooperation with France in diverse areas. Bilateral relations between Pakistan and France are on an upward trajectory and the signing of Bilateral Cooperation between Pakistan and France in 2023 has paved the way for deepening and diversifying our bilateral ties, he said. Earlier in his speech Ambassador Nicolas Galey drew the guests’ attention towards the situation in Ukraine and Gaza where people were affected by conflict and aggression.
Ambassador of the US, Mr Donald Blome, Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer, Mr Faisal Zahid Malik, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed and MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar in a group photo at the French National Day reception. —Online
For two years since the start of an unjust and unjustified war by Russia, the Ukrainian people have been deprived of their right to live in peace in the internationally recognized borders of their country, and of its right to decide its destiny, he said. President Macron also reaffirmed a few days ago at the NATO Summit in Washington that we will continue to do so “as long as necessary,” he said quoting the French president.
The French ambassador also mentioned situation in Gaza where violence has been affecting the population for more than nine months. Here again, France took its responsibilities, dropping humanitarian aid as early as January of this year, and calling for an immediate ceasefire as well as the release of all the hostages, including French citizens.
Our bilateral ties, Ambassador expressed satisfaction they were in the right direction. He referred to a recent agreement signed with the Pakistani Ministry of Aviation allowing the civil aviation experts from the two countries, with the support of the Thales company, to develop concrete cooperation in the field of aviation safety and security. He also mentioned the Erasmus + student programme, and the ‘crucial GSP + agreement,’ which according to him makes the EU Pakistan’s second largest trading partner. About the Paris Olympic 2024, he said, “Earlier this week, I received Pakistani Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the embassy, along with their coaches and the leadership of the Pakistan Olympic Association,” said the ambassador referring to Pakistan’s squad participating in the upcoming Olympic games. He wished good luck to the young Olympic and Paralympic athletes who will carry the colours of Pakistan high, throw their javelin as far as possible, run or swim as fast as possible, shoot with precision or lift dumbbells with all their might!
