Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, presented his best wishes for 2018 to the entire Foreign Diplomatic and Consular Corps accredited in the Principality at a ceremony on Monday, January 29.
Present were Serge Telle, Minister of State, Monsignor Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco, Georges Lisimacchio, Head of Cabinet of HSH Prince Albert, Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, Marine Carne-Trecesson, Ambassador of France, Cristiano Gallo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy, the Ambassador of the Order of Malta, and the Ambassadors of Austria and Australia.
After thanking the Ambassadors and the Foreign Consuls in Monaco for their work in 2017, the Minister referred to the highlights that marked the year. He also pointed out that “while certain events have accentuated the threats to the security of the world, we should not ignore the significant advances which, at the same time, may reassure us somewhat about the future.
“We can not ignore the economic upturn that seems to be strengthening at the beginning of the year, both in Europe and around the world.”
He pointed out that 24 new foreign Ambassadors were accredited to the Principality in 2017, including, for the first time, the Ambassadors of Belarus, Iceland and Fiji. To date, the Principality officially maintains diplomatic relations with 135 states and 114 foreign embassies are accredited in Monaco.
At the end of last year, 88 countries were officially represented by a Consul in the Principality and 10 new consuls of Monaco were appointed abroad.
Finally, Mr Tonelli mentioned the key visits made in 2017, including those of Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Dusko Markovic, Prime Minister of Montenegro, and the Monaco Tripartite Meeting, Andorra and San Marino, in the context of negotiations with the European Union.