“Seychelles continues to stand alongside France, the European Union and the United Nations in defending international law and supporting the resolution of the conflict towards a just and lasting global peace, in accordance with the United Nations Charter”.
So remarked France’s ambassador to the Seychelles, Olivia Berkeley-Christmann, in her speech on France’s national holiday in the presence of numerous guests.
Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is facing up to climate change, and the French ambassador underlined Seychelles’ leading role in the widespread adoption of the Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index and the defense of Small Island States.
An important part of the cooperation between France and the Seychelles is in the fight against drug trafficking and illegal fishing in the region.
“This operational cooperation has already led to several interceptions at sea, including the seizure of over a ton of heroin, and its reinforcement was envisaged during the recent visit of the FAZSOI COMSUP for Independence Day,” said Ambassador Berkeley-Christmann.
France was keen to point out the increase in regional cooperation with Reunion Island, with the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to St Denis de Sylvestre Radegonde.
She also spoke of the Francophonie, which is extremely important to France.
“We share a common interest in promoting the French language through education and culture, the defense of democracy and human rights, the rights of sexual minorities, and freedom of the press,” said Ambassador Berkeley-Christmann.
For his part, Seychelles Foreign Minister Sylvestre Radegonde underlined the good regional cooperation that exists between Seychelles and Reunion Island.
Once again, French soldiers marched alongside Seychellois soldiers on Independence Day.
The INTERREG V program is a reminder of the importance of strengthening relations with Réunion in our cooperation strategy, and we have already collaborated on 40% of the projects. This sufficiently demonstrates that this program needs to be made more visible to Seychellois, because it’s an excellent program,” said Minister Radegonde.
