Célébrations de la Fête nationale 2019

Official Speech by Ms Catherine Suard, Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai
July 12th, 2019, French National Day Celebrations at Taj Connemara

Chers invités,
Honourable Minister for Industries, Thiru M.C.Sampath,
Honourable Minister for Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture, Thiru K. Pandiarajan
Your Highness the Prince of Arcot
Esteemed representatives of all Authorities,
My dear colleagues of the Diplomatic Community,
Madame et Messieurs les Conseillers consulaires,
Dear friends, chers compatriotes,

It is a true pleasure and honour for me to welcome you all here today, to celebrate our National Day !
As you know, the French National Day is also referred to as Bastille Day – (“Prise de la Bastille” in French).
It marks the anniversary of the ‘Storming of the Bastille’, which was a turning point of the French Revolution, and took place on July 14th, 1789 – meaning two hundred and thirty years ago !
Its spirit, inspired by ideals of the Philosophes des Lumières, such as Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, Montesquieu, is deeply enrooted in our national values, as evidenced by the motto of our French Republic : Liberté, égalité, fraternité.
No need for translation of these terms since we share with India, and all democracies, these universal principles.
Talking about democracy, this year, these past months, weeks even, has given us testimony of its vibrancy in India, in Europe, and in France.
In India first, where we witnessed the largest election ever taking place. And, indeed, when the largest democracy in the world votes, it is a worldwide event.
Although at a smaller scale but still large enough, there were also European elections –– leading to a large renewal of the European Parliament and at the head of European institutions – with, for the first time (I am particularly pleased to underline it) gender parity amongst nominees !
As you certainly noticed, it was even a time of active social mobilisation in France, smartly transformed in a “grand débat national”, a large consultation involving citizens in France and abroad, to result in new measures and reforms.
These events, these facts, show the vibrancy, the vigour and dynamism of our societies, signs of healthy democracies.
But democracy needs peace to develop.
For this reason, the French President Emmanuel Macron launched the first Paris Peace Forum on the occasion of the Centenary of 1918 armistice last year. Beyond the duty of remembrance, its purpose is to help to safeguard peace, today and tomorrow in a more and more complex and dangerous world.
The Paris Peace Forum’s second edition will take place this year in November, and again be a global platform for discussion and debates on global governance, culture, innovation and education.

As I said, India and France share many values and principles.
As democracies, our two countries stand for multilateralism, international law, cooperation between States.
21 years after signing a strategic partnership, we are more than just partners, and we address new challenges together – in the Indo-Pacific region, in space, in cyber-pace, in confronting terrorism, in facing climate change, particularly with the International Solar Alliance.
It is in this spirit that President Macron has invited Prime Minister Modi for a visit to France for the G7 summit, at the end of August this year.

This relationship between our two countries translates more and more into a strong people-to-people dimension.
This year, 10 000 Indian students choose France for their studies – a historic figure, a year ahead of the 2020 target set by our leaders.
This year also came into force the Indo-French Governmental Agreement on mutual recognition of Academic Degrees which ensures a smooth transitioning of students India to France and vice-versa.
As France remains the first tourist destination worldwide, 8 lakhs Indian tourists chose it last year, twice as many as three years ago.
Today, almost one million Indians are learning French across the country – be it in Alliances Françaises, in schools or universities.

Please allow me to continue here in French.
En Inde du Sud également, nous – vous - nous tous rassemblés ici – sommes acteurs de cette relation bilatérale, au quotidien, et engagés pour poursuivre son développement. Je vous en remercie sincèrement.

In the past year – as you have seen in the short summary in pictures, cooperation and exchanges have been strengthened in various fields :
  Joint-ventures have been signed as GSE-AVIGNA for example,
  industrial plants have started or developed their production as Saint-Gobain did,
  new brands or products have been launched in the market as Citroën cars ;
  France participated as a partner country in the successful Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet ;
  and we are very proud having organized the first edition of the “festival des francophonies” in Pondicherry …
I would like to take this occasion today, to thank you all for your engagement.
And assure you that we look forward to continue this work together with you all, Indian and French partners, across various sectors.
As the national day will be marked in France all over the weekend with popular celebrations and fireworks in every city, I invite you all to enjoy this evening in a festive spirit.
Thank you for your attention.

July 15th, 2019
Official Speech by Ms Catherine Suard, Consul General of France in Pondicherry and Chennai, for the French National Day 2019 Celebrations held at the Consulate General of France in Pondicherry

Chers invités,
Honourable Chief Minister, Thiru V. NARAYANASAMI,
Esteemed Chief Secretary, M. Ashwani KUMAR
Esteemed representatives of all Authorities,
Madame et Messieurs les Conseillers consulaires,
Dear friends, chers compatriotes,
Chers amis venus de France, et chers amis de la France
It is a true pleasure and honour for me to welcome you all here today, to celebrate our National Day !
Meaning to celebrate our national values, as evidenced by the motto of our French Republic : Liberté, égalité, fraternité.
No need for translation of these terms since we share with India, and all democracies, these universal principles.
Talking about democracy, this year, these past months, weeks even, has given us testimony of its vibrancy in India, in Europe, and in France.
In India first, where we witnessed the largest election ever taking place. And, indeed, when the largest democracy in the world votes, it is a worldwide event.
Although at a smaller scale but still large enough, there were also European elections –– leading to a large renewal of the European Parliament and at the head of European institutions – with, for the first time (I am particularly pleased to underline it) gender parity amongst nominees !
As you certainly noticed, it was even a time of active social mobilisation in France, smartly transformed in a “grand débat national”, a large consultation involving citizens in France and abroad, to result in new measures and reforms.
These events, these facts, show the vibrancy, the vigour and dynamism of our societies, signs of healthy democracies.
But democracy needs peace to develop.
For this reason, the French President Emmanuel Macron launched the first Paris Peace Forum on the occasion of the Centenary of 1918 armistice last year.
Beyond the duty of remembrance, its purpose is to help to safeguard peace, today and tomorrow in a more and more complex and dangerous world.
The Paris Peace Forum’s second edition will take place this year in November, and again be a global platform for discussion and debates on global governance, culture, innovation and education.
As I said, India and France share many values and principles.
As democracies, our two countries stand for multilateralism, international law, cooperation between States.
21 years after signing a strategic partnership, we are more than just partners, and we address new challenges together – in the Indo-Pacific region, in space, in cyber-pace, in confronting terrorism, in facing climate change, particularly with the International Solar Alliance.
It is in this spirit that President Macron has invited Prime Minister Modi for a visit to France for the G7 summit, at the end of August this year.
This relationship between our two countries translates more and more into a strong people-to-people dimension.
This year, 10 000 Indian students choose France for their studies – a historic figure, a year ahead of the 2020 target set by our leaders.
As France remains the first tourist destination worldwide, 8 lakhs Indian tourists chose it last year, twice as many as three years ago.
This year also came into force the Indo-French Governmental Agreement on mutual recognition of Academic Degrees which ensures a smooth transitioning of students India to France and vice-versa.
In this regard, I sincerely thank the Government of Puducherry, and the Chief Minister himself who seized the momentum of the implementation of this Agreement to organize, the 28th of June, an Indo-French consultative meet on Education challenges and opportunities.
Today, almost one million Indians are learning French across the country – be it in Alliances Françaises, in schools or universities.

Please allow me to continue here in French.
En Inde du Sud également, au Tamil Nadu, au Kerala, et bien-sûr ici à Pondichéry, nous – vous - nous tous rassemblés ici – sommes acteurs de cette relation bilatérale, au quotidien, et engagés pour poursuivre son développement. Je vous en remercie sincèrement.
In the past year – as you have seen in the short summary in pictures, cooperation and exchanges have been strengthened in various fields :
  Industrial plants have started or developed their production as Saint-Gobain did in Chennai and Poclain here in Pondicherry,
  France was a partner country of the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet, and here is the partner of Pondichéry itself, especially through its Development Agency – AFD.
  AFD has continued its commitment alongside the Government of Pondicherry, be it the program for water supply, urban development, and of course Pondicherry Smart City. We are expecting in the coming weeks the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding covering all these cooperation.
But what’s making us very proud regarding the past months is the success of the first edition of the “festival des francophonies” we organized in Pondicherry, with the support of the Government of Pondicherry, in particular the tourism Department. (special thanks to the Minister Malladi Krishna RAO).
And I am very pleased to announce today that the second edition’s programme is already under preparation. Please book your agenda : le prochain “festival des francophonies de Pondichéry” aura lieu du 21 au 29 mars 2020.

Beyond events and marking dates, France in Pondichéry also means day-per-day collaborative work and long term perspective.
For example, this year, our Lycée Français became the French International School of Pondicherry thus marking its opening to all students, French, Indians or any nationality.
Every French institution here, like the French Institute, the EFEO, or the ones carrying our values, like our beautiful Alliance Française, is resolutely engaged in new developments.
The contribution of the French Community to Pondichéry is the one of each of you, individuals, entrepreneurs, associations, in many fields : high tech, shipyard, hospitality, travel agency, real estate, interior design, gastronomy…as you will enjoy this evening with the cocktail dinatoire prepared by La Villa’s Chef, Michel Christmann.
I would like to take this occasion today, to thank you all for your engagement.
And assure you that we look forward to continue this work together with you all, Indian and French partners, across various sectors.
As the national day was marked in France all over the weekend with popular celebrations and fireworks in every city, I invite you all to enjoy this evening in a festive spirit.
Thank you for your attention.