Vēstnieces uzruna Francijas valsts svētku svinībās

Honourable guests,
Dear colleagues from the diplomatic corps,
Dāmas un kungi, dārgie draugi Latvijā,

Pagājušajā gadā mēs baudījām tropiskus laikapstākļus, un es cerēju ieraudzīt vēstniecības pagalmā rozā flamingo. Šogad, ja pareizi saprotu, pa Daugavu drīzāk varētu ierasties eksotiskais valzirgs. Šī valsts tik tiešām ir pilna pārsteigumu !

Last 14th of July, we were reflecting on the really extra-ordinary we had just been through with the pandemic. Little did we know that these troubled times were actually manageable, but that greater evil was approaching.

The brutal and completely unlawful aggression of Russia in Ukraine has shown us how fragile our world actually is, and how important it is to stand for our values with our friends and allies, to stand in solidarity with Ukraine our friend and now a candidate country to the EU.

Over the past six months, the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union has tried to accompany the profound transformations of the European Union, at a time when war has struck our continent. It has worked to provide a firm and united response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine, while continuing to work on the major projects for the future of our Europe, so that it can be more sovereign, greener and more human.
We are proud to have achieved ambitious goals to ensure the ecological and digital transitions, protect and adapt our social model, pave the way for the economic recovery, respond to issues concerning defence and reaffirm the interest and importance of European values.
And we stand ready to keep working with the Czech Republic as a new president of the Council of the EU, to contribute to its success.

Within our Alliance, NATO, this extra-ordinary crisis has also brought some extra-ordinary response from us all to refocus firmly on collective defence in the Euro-Atlantic area to make sure that every inch of NATO territory is defended. France is committed for the security of its partners on the eastern flank, particularly in the Baltic countries where we have reinforced our military presence.

The Alliance has taken action to strengthen its posture on the eastern flank to ensure the security of our European allies and partners against the threat that Russia now poses and France takes its full share of this joint effort.
Latvia, as an ally and partner, knows it can count on France in the face of threats.
We are going through challenging times but in spite of all, our bilateral relation is growing. National day speeches are the perfect opportunity to reflect about the achievements and future projects in our bilateral relations, and we have many ! But I won’t keep you too long and I would like to mention just two moments that made me proud as France ambassador to Latvia.

I had the honour last April to be with the President of Latvia Egils Levits as he was inaugurating a new industrial building at the Axon’ Cable factory in Daugavpils, specializing in connectors and cabling. Axon’ Cable is now the first private employer in Daugavpils and this franco-latvian success story is truly admirable.

Last October, Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš visited the factory of the French group Schneider Electric in Riga, one of the largest manufacturers of electronic products and wiring in Latvia, with many investments and development projects in Latvia.
These moments were milestones, and I will not dwell on the part French companies play in Rail Baltica, a major project for the whole region. However, alongside these economic achievements, the strength of our bilateral relation lays mostly in our people. I am happy to tell you (although you may have heard me repeat it already a few hundred times) that the growth of the French community in Latvia last year was actually the fastest in the whole world ! With an increase of 12 % we are now nearly 500 French happily leaving in Latvia (as for the increase, I am sure it has something to do with the possibility of spotting walruses on the beach).

For the French community in Riga, another excellent news was the now complete certification of the Jules Verne Riga French School, from kindergarten to baccalaureat, an outstanding achievement for the board, the management and the teachers altogether. Moreover, we had the pleasure to celebrate the first baccalaureat obtained in Riga by a young Latvian demoiselle now on her way to study mathematics in France.
Mes chers compatriotes, c’est un 14 juillet sobre et en petit comité cette année encore. J’ai fait le choix de rassembler toute notre communauté en septembre lorsque nous serons plus nombreux à Riga. Nous avons tenu cependant aujourd’hui à vous remercier, vous présents, pour l’aide précieuse que vous avez apportée à la communauté française et à l’ambassade au fil de cette année en participant à des commissions consulaires, en nous appuyant pour l’organisation des élections ou en apportant votre expertise et vos conseils. Soyez en remerciés, c’est indispensable pour notre action et nous vous sommes très reconnaissants.

Honoured guests,
You have certainly noticed a strange animal at the entrance of the embassy. I invite you to go and take a closer look. In the great hall of the French Institute, we are happy to present a part of a wonderful project that some of you may have already seen at the archbishop Stankēvičs premises in Vecrīga. It is a small selection of drawings made by young Ukrainian refugees in Latvia. The theme is nature, animals and gardens as an extension of an exhibition we had at the Institute in June around gardens in Europe. Many thanks, liels paldies to the curator Gabriella Cabiere, and the artists who have organised this Art club, Anton Glotov and Agnessa Lokshina.

To support hospitals in Ukraine, we offer you to buy the copyrights of the drawings you like best. The funds collected will be channelled to Ukraine by Caritas. Please go and admire the powerful and moving drawings of these children trapped by the madness of our world but who can still see its amazing beauty.

One last word, in Latvian if you can bear my terrible pronunciation a little bit more.
Brīdī, kad esam šeit pulcējušies, Latvijas Nacionālo bruņoto spēku Štāba bataljona Godasardzes rotas karavīri piedalās militārajā parādē Elizejas laukos Parīzē kopā ar kolēģiem no astoņām citām Austrumeiropas valstīm, kuras šogad ir parādes goda viesi. 14. jūlija parāde ir nozīmīgs brīdis franču nācijai. Esmu laimīga redzēt alianses spēku un Francijas-Latvijas draudzību, kas tādējādi tiek svinēta. Paldies par šo ieroču brālību.

Vive la France, vive la Lettonie et bon 14 juillet à tous !