Mr Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, extended his New Year wishes to the whole Foreign Consular Corps accredited to the Principality at a reception on Monday, January 9.

After thanking all the Foreign Consular Corps in Monaco for their work in 2016, the Minister gave an overview of the various events that marked the last year. He stressed that in the current global context, the continuity of the monarchy in Monaco ensures a continuity of policies and a permanence of priorities allowing for long-term security.

He recalled that in 2016 that 21 new foreign Ambassadors were accredited in the Principality and that the first Embassy of Monaco in Portugal was opened in Lisbon. To date, the Principality maintains diplomatic relations with 132 states and 110 foreign embassies are accredited in Monaco.

At the end of 2016, 80 countries were officially represented in the Principality by a Consul and five new Consuls from Monaco were appointed abroad. Lastly, Mr Tonelli spoke about the many highlights of 2016, notably through the key visits to the Principality concerning European issues, health and the sustainable development goals, in particular with the presence in November last of the President of the 71st General Assembly of the United Nations.

Present at the ceremony were HE Mr Serge Telle, Minister of State, Mr Georges Lisimacchio, Chief of Staff to HSH the Prince, Lieutenant-Colonel Laurent Soler, HSH Prince’s Chamberlain, HE Mrs Marine de Carne de Trecesson de Coetlogon, Ambassador of France, HE Mr Cristiano Gallo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, Ambassador of the Order of Malta, and the President and Directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and of the International Hydrographic Bureau.

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