Day: 12 December 2017

Monaco Explorations and the Principality’s initiatives for the oceans have been in the spotlight at the UN. Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, accompanied by Marie-Catherine Caruso-Ravera, Director of Diplomatic and Consular Relations, visited the United States, from December 4 to 8, to make working visits to the various Monaco Diplomatic and Consular Missions.

In New York, she delivered an important speech to the UN General Assembly during the debate on oceans and the law of the sea.

Her address was an opportunity to recall Monaco’s priorities, such as the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, ocean acidification, marine protected areas, the fight against marine pollution as well as the Principality’s support for hydrography and marine cartography.

The importance of marine science and scientific collaboration was also at the heart of the Director General’s speech, citing as examples the Yersin’s ports of call in Madeira, Cape Verde and Martinique, in accordance with the vision of SAS the Sovereign Prince to “reconcile humanity and the sea.”

The Principality also supports the initiative of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission to proclaim a Decade of Ocean Sciences from 2021 to 2030. Two draft resolutions of the General Assembly on oceans and the law of the sea in general and on the sustainability of fisheries were adopted at the end of the debate.

By the end of the year, the General Assembly is expected to adopt a third resolution to convene an Intergovernmental Conference to develop a new International Instrument for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity.

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The Government has pointed out that Monaco has not appeared on any of the three lists of problematic fiscal jurisdictions as published by the Council of Europe on Tuesday, December 5. A total of 92 jurisdictions were listed.

Monaco was recognised as “largely compliant” in terms of transparency four years ago, at the World Forum of the OCDE held in Jakarta. Furthermore, Monaco’s economic model is “onshore”, the Monaco government said in its statement published on Wednesday, December 6. What makes the Principality rich is the wealth of its residents, who live and consume in Monaco, plus the VAT revenues produced in accordance with an agreement with France.

From May 17, 2016, Monaco has applied the necessary measures to combat the erosion of the tax base and transfer of profits, the statement said, adding, “The Government states with satisfaction the recognition of the work so far accomplished and will pursue future actions to maintain its conformity to international standards in these matters.”

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Monaco Minister of Finance: Non-residents and the exchange of financial information

The entrepreneur and designer Otto Kern has died in Monaco at the age of 67 from, as reported by German media, a heart attack.

An investigation has been launched after the body of the long-time Monaco resident was found on the terrace of a building on avenue Princess Grace, having fallen, according to one source, from his thirteenth floor apartment.

Kern was born in Nürtingen near Stuttgart and first studied law and economics in Frankfurt before entering women’s fashion in the early 1970s.

His successes earned him the title “The King of Shirts and Blouses”. Later he extended his reach into perfumes and other cosmetics.

In 2000, the brand name Otto Kern became part of the Herford-based men’s fashion group Ahlers, which also includes Baldessarini and Pierre Cardin. The Otto Kern logo of a lion with a stylised “K” is today found on men’s shirts, jeans and sportswear, as well on women’s blouses and knitwear.

Kern spent most of his time in Monaco, and also at homes in Kitzbühel in Austria and in the Caribbean. He was married four times and leaves three children.

In 2008, when he wed model Naomi Valeska Salz, the magazine Bunte quoted him saying at that time: “This wedding will be my last and our love will last forever.”

A frequent guest at events such as the Red Cross Ball in Monaco and the Monte-Carlo Circus, Kern was at a dinner at Schloss Bellevue with the Federal President when the royal couple of Monaco visited Germany in July 2012.

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The Government announced that there will be further work carried out on the hot water supply at the Jardins d’Appoline complex, from Tuesday, December 12, at 10 pm until Wednesday at 5 am, and again from Wednesday night until Thursday morning, at the same times.

Cold water will be accessible as usual but hot water will not be available during these periods, and the hot water taps should not be used.

Residents have also been warned to run the hot water for a minute after the service has resumed to get rid of discolouration, although it is possible that some discolouration will last longer.

Most importantly, when the hot water is back in service it will be at a higher temperature initially, at about 55 degrees. Users are advised to open the hot water supply slowly at first, in order to avoid the danger of burns. All this necessary information and precautions should be passed on to children in the household.

The Government service responsible for the repairs has apologised for the inconvenience.

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Gilles Tonelli, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, spoke on a number of topics important to the Principality at the 24th Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, held in Vienna on December 7 and 8.

The minister reaffirmed Monaco’s commitment to the fundamental rules of international law, first and foremost the defence of human rights, the rule of law and democracy, as well as the respect for the principles of justice and peace.

Gilles Tonelli praised the OSCE’s many actions in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, as well as the important efforts made to calm tensions in the region. He also reaffirmed the financial support of the Principality to the OSCE Special Observer Mission to Ukraine.

In addition, Mr Tonelli indicated that the Principality will continue its efforts to contribute, as far as it can, to the fight against “the terrorist scourge”. These efforts are reflected in the extension, for three years, of the programme that Monaco is supporting alongside UNODC, aimed at helping the Sahel countries to improve their criminal justice systems in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, and by supporting the “Octopus-Cybercrim Program” under the auspices of the Council of Europe.

Finally, Gilles Tonelli said that the Principality of Monaco remains resolutely engaged with its Mediterranean partners, notably through the extension, in 2018-2019, of a financing agreement between the Prince’s Government and the OSCE on a project to ”fight against trafficking in human beings along migration routes”.

This extension was signed, in the margins of the Ministerial Council, in a bilateral meeting with Ambassador Thomas Greminger, the new Secretary General of the OSCE, in the presence of Madina Jarbussynova, Special Representative and OSCE Coordinator for the fight against trafficking in human beings.

The minister was accompanied in Vienna by Ms Isabelle Berro-Amadei, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Monaco to the OSCE, and Lorenzo Ravano, First Counsellor to the Monaco Embassy in Berlin.

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Government Services have started the first phase of a clean-up operation on the cliff faces of the Rock. The objective is to rid them of certain invasive plant species, preserve heritage species and limit the risk of falling rocks above the Port of Fontvieille.

With the aim of preserving local biodiversity, operators store invasive plants and dangerous stones in large white bags hanging on the cliff. To facilitate their work in the field, species identification sheets are available.

To define the areas with a conservation issue, an inventory of the area produced an exhaustive list of alien species and species of heritage interest. Training on good plant management practices was also organised for those taking part.

This clean-up operation will take place in three phases that will follow each other during the winter. The entire programme will be completed by the end of 2019 by cleaning the areas below the Oceanographic Museum and will conclude with a monitoring of the eradication of invasive alien plant species on these sites.

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