Prince and Princess come out for National Day

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene

Since 1952, the “Fête du Prince”, more often called the “Fête Nationale” has taken place on November, the Day of the feast of Rainier d’Arezzo, Patron Saint of Prince Rainier III. On his accession in 2005, H.S.H. Prince Albert II decided to maintain the National Day on that date.

As in all countries, the National Day is the opportunity for the national community to celebrate its identity and traditions. Thus Monegasques and the inhabitants of Monaco gather around the Sovereign Prince, Head of State and the Princely Family.

On Monday 19 November 2018, the celebrations started in the Courtyard of the Princely Palace with a presentation of arms and awarding of rank badges and medals before the traditional Te Deum mass in the Cathedral of Monaco.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene

Then, on the Place du Palais, the Band of the Prince’s Carabiniers gave the programme a swing with an eclectic musical selection before giving way to the military parade.

To commemorate the Centennial of the Armistice of 1918, tribute was paid to the 22 members of the Monegasque Force Publique (8 of the Prince’s Carabiniers and 14 firefighters) who fell on the field of honour. Thus, 22 soldiers, wearing the legendary horizon blue uniform of the “Poilus” took part in this parade.

Finally, “Verdun, On Ne Passe Pas,” the iconic song of the Great War, was sung on the Place du Palais by a male voice choir made up of soldiers in the “Poilus” uniform and a detachment of the Prince’s Carabiniers.

The Gala Evening which took place at the Grimaldi Forum with “Samson and Dalila,” the opera by Camille Saint-Saëns, closed these celebrations.

Annual reception of the Economic and Social Council

CES 2018 - President André Garino at the desk, at the end of his speech © Manuel Vitali - Directorate of Communication

Monday, November 26, the President of the Economic and Social Council (CES), André Garino, gathered many personalities of the Principality, including HE Mr. Minister of State, Serge Telle, Government Councilors and representatives of the economic and social world, on the occasion of the traditional annual reception of CES.

CES 2018 - President André Garino at the desk, at the end of his speech © Manuel Vitali - Directorate of Communication
CES 2018 – President André Garino at the desk, at the end of his speech © Manuel Vitali – Directorate of Communication

In his speech, President Garino referred to the positive results of the past three years, during which 18 vows and 4 reports were drafted, and underlined the importance of the consultative role of this Assembly, a privileged forum for dialogue and proposals. whose vocation is to give an opinion on subjects related to the economic and social life of the country.

Subsequently, he expressed the wish that the Economic and Social Council continue to be associated with the reflections, on all the texts of social and economic nature.

Finally, President Garino also spoke about the next appointment of the new President of ESC and the renewal of its members.

Turning on the festive lights in Monaco

Christmas Lights

The Mayor and a group of dignitaries celebrated the Christmas lights switch-on at Place d’Armes on 23 November.

Christmas Lights

The Mayor was joined by members of the Communal Council, Patrice Cellario, Councilor of Government – Minister of the Interior, Didier Gamerdinger, Councilor of Government – Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Michèle Dittlot, Councilor National, Commander Marc Degabriel and Captain Jean Canu of the Fire Brigade Corps of Monaco and about twenty beneficiaries of the Home Maintenance of the Social Action Service of the Monaco City Hall and residents of A Qietüdine.

This year, a few days before the International Day Against Violence Against Women, the Communal Council wished to highlight eight Monegasque associations that work for women every day: Women World Leaders Monaco, She Can – He Can , Action Innocence, Zonta Club Monaco, Union of Monegasque Women, Soroptimist Monaco, Pink Ribbon and the Association of Assistance to Victims of Criminal Offenses.

In his speech, Mayor Georges Marsan underlined that the lighting of the city “mobilizes from the end of September the electricians of the Animation Service of the City who work in collaboration with the teams of the company Blachère Illumination in charge of ‘install some sets’. “Thanks to their work, the magic of Christmas is every year at the rendezvous,” he continued before recalling the commitment of the Mayor of Monaco for the environment and sustainable development: “In accordance with desired orientations by HSH Prince Albert II, the Monaco City Council continues its approach in favor of the environment and sustainable development. We therefore have decorations exclusively equipped with LEDs which allows to reduce the power consumption and to bring an additional luminous sparkle to the decorations “.

For the 2018 edition, 188 transverse motifs and 577 candelabra motifs were installed in the streets of the Principality. Among the highlights, note the return of the luminous ceiling to the roundabout of the Commercial Center of Fontvieille in addition to that maintained at the roundabout of the Canton. In general, the median and roundabouts are decorated with bright scenographies composed of gifts, Christmas trees, Christmas balls

At the end of the spotlight at the Place d’Armes, the elders benefiting from the Home Support of the Social Action Service of the Monaco City Hall accompanied by their assistants of life, the leaders of this section as well as elected officials were driven through the streets of the Principality to discover the sets in a vehicle provided free of charge by the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco.

Until January 6, 2019, all areas of Monaco will be illuminated in the colors of Christmas. The district of Fontvieille will play extra time and will remain in the spotlight until February 3 on the occasion of the 43rd International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo and the 8th New Generation Festival.

Monaco Israel cybersecurity forum

(credits Realis/MEB/ Monaco Friends of Israel): l-r Giorgio Gentilli and Franck Biancheri, Vice-President and President of Monaco Friends of Israel; Yuval Elovici, Director of Cybersecurity Research Centre and head of Ben Gurion University’s Telecoms Department; Tamir Prado, President of XM Cyber; Haïm Tomer, Strategic Advisor AWZ HLS Fund; Dominique Riban, Director Monaco Digital Security Agency; Philippe Benzimra, Founder and Treasurer of Monaco Friends of Israel.

Organised by the Monaco Friends of Israel association in partnership with the Monaco Economic Board, this event put into perspective the risks associated with the widespread use of digital technology and how to protect yourself. Some 120 economic stakeholders and guests attended to hear some top-level speakers on the subject.

After an introduction by Association Monaco Friends of Israel President Franck Biancheri, the first talk focused on Monaco’s point of view. Dominique Riban, Director of Monaco’s Digital Security Agency, outlined the Principality’s strategy to protect IT systems in institutions, protect personal data, raise awareness and make cybersecurity a competitiveness factor, the legislation in force and his organisation’s objectives.

(credits Realis/MEB/ Monaco Friends of Israel): l-r Giorgio Gentilli and Franck Biancheri, Vice-President and President of Monaco Friends of Israel; Yuval Elovici, Director of Cybersecurity Research Centre and head of Ben Gurion University’s Telecoms Department; Tamir Prado, President of XM Cyber; Haïm Tomer, Strategic Advisor AWZ HLS Fund; Dominique Riban, Director Monaco Digital Security Agency; Philippe Benzimra, Founder and Treasurer of Monaco Friends of Israel.
(credits Realis/MEB/ Monaco Friends of Israel): l-r Giorgio Gentilli and Franck Biancheri, Vice-President and President of Monaco Friends of Israel; Yuval Elovici, Director of Cybersecurity Research Centre and head of Ben Gurion University’s Telecoms Department; Tamir Prado, President of XM Cyber; Haïm Tomer, Strategic Advisor AWZ HLS Fund; Dominique Riban, Director Monaco Digital Security Agency; Philippe Benzimra, Founder and Treasurer of Monaco Friends of Israel.

Martin Péronnet, Managing Director of Monaco Telecom, then underlined the crucial importance of cybersecurity for an operator, both to protect its own installations and that of its customers be they companies or private individuals.

He was followed by Haïm Tomer, former intelligence chief in the fight against terrorism and international relations in Mossad. Now working in the private sector in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, he highlighted the battle’s complexity and Israeli expertise.

For a start-up nation like Israel, one under intense regional geopolitical pressure, cybersecurity is an obvious necessity. This was the focus of the talk by Yuval Elovici, Cybersecurity Research Centre Director who heads Ben Gurion University’s Telecoms Department. The university is in Be’er Sheva, a Cyber City established by the Israeli government to develop an ecosystem that has proved very effective in bringing on start-ups in this field.

Concluding this high-level conference, co-founder and president of XM Cyber, Tamir Pardo, Mossad Director from 2011 to 2016, graphically illustrated how we all take risks every day, particularly with smartphones. “It’s as if you are putting your wallet and house keys in the middle of the road showing your schedule and when you will be absent,” he says. On a global scale, the threat is described as a “soft” nuclear bomb. Tamir Pardo and his compatriots have made themselves the spokesmen for the country’s expertise, an expertise that could be replicated here in the Principality.

Baroque music concerts to take place in December

© - Directorate of Cultural Affairs

The Directorate of Cultural Affairs of the Principality, present in December, concerts of Baroque music at the Chapel of the Visitation.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 8:30 pm:

“Miraculous Tribes” by The Gesualdo Six

Owain Park, direction.

The Gesualdo Six is ​​a vocal sextet led by Owain Park. The ensemble favors early music and more specifically the polyphonic repertoire of the Renaissance but also offers programs that combine modern works and sacred and secular works.

Since its creation in 2014, The Gesualdo Six has given many concerts in the United Kingdom and is preparing other tours and concerts abroad, especially in Germany. In 2018, the ensemble recorded a CD, English Motets, at Hyperion.

© - Directorate of Cultural Affairs
© – Directorate of Cultural Affairs

Thursday, December 6, 2018, at 8:30 pm:

“La Spirita” by the Society of Ancient Music

Marie-Claire Bert, recorders – Michel Quagliozzi, recorders – Sibylle Schultz-Carrière, viola da gamba – Etienne Mangot, viola da gamba and cello – Camille Mugot, harpsichord – Michaëla Chétrite, organ.

“This program begins in the cozy atmosphere that precedes the Nativity with composers of the fourteenth century who celebrate the Virgin Mary in anticipation of the birth of Jesus. Prayers, meditative and more popular joys are found in music. Rather than a direct reference to the Nativity of vocal pieces, we create here a poetic path evoked by moods, joyous or collected, full of hope, love and wonder. Then Jesus is born, and our journey becomes more carnal, more human, and especially spiritual with some great church sonatas of the Baroque repertoire. Marie-Claire Bert

  • Chapel of the Visitation, Monaco-Ville
  • Free admission, limited seating available
  • Doors open at 8pm.
  • Information: +377 98 98 83 03