http://www.ambafrance-us.org http://www.france.diplomatie.fr VOL. 07.03 MARCH 16, 2007 A free triweekly review of French news & trends Online at: www.ambafrance-us.org/publi French Ambassador Honors Congressional French Caucus INSIDE 2 L’événement Standing high atop the staircase of the residence of French Ambassador Caucus and former Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Former French Jean-David Levitte, a young and vibrant Marquis de Lafayette addressed conferred honorary citizenship upon the revolutionary figure. It was an President Visits U.S. Members of Congress and other guests at a March 7 reception in honor of honor well-appreciated by the young Marquis who proclaimed with pas- 3 France-Amérique the Congressional French Caucus.The Marquis expressed his esteem for the sionate emphasis before Members of Congress and other guests his best Trans-Atlantic discus- trans-Atlantic relationship he fought to develop: "Think of this place as your wishes to both of his home countries: "God Bless the USA," he declared. sions on Counterfeiting new home and of me as your new friend. […] "And Vive La France." From now on I shall have two countries,France and "Tonight I would like to focus on a 4 Profil the United States of America," he proclaimed. man who played a fundamental role in The César Awards As symbols that epitomizes French-American establishing and shaping this unique Économie / Science friendship, the French Caucus reception and the relationship between the United States 5 spirit of French-American relations symbolically and France," Levitte told members of 2006 Record Year for conveyed by the re-enactor's address could not have the Caucus. "This relationship has had Foreign Direct been more timely. On February 15, Congressman its ups and downs, but the fundamen- Investment Ike Skelton (D-MO), Chairman of the House tal strength of the special bond 6 Société Armed Services Committee and a French Caucus between our two countries has never Mr. France 2007 member,introduced a resolution, H.Res. 171, hon- been in question." Distinguished oring the life of Lafayette and encouraging Rep. Oberstar (left), Rep. Boozman (center), guests at the March 7 reception includ- 7 Culture American military personnel to continue to study Amb. Levitte (right) ed: French Caucus Co-Chairs, Rep. Cultural Assistance to the critical role he played in the formation of the John Boozman (R-AR) and Rep. Jim New Orleans United States and the American military. Oberstar (D-MN), as well as caucus members, Senator David Vitter 8 Chez nous "Lafayette occupies a considerable place in the history of the United (R-LA) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (R-RI). Month-long States," declares Congressman Skelton in his resolution. "More than one Addressing members of the audience in the "language of the person, he symbolizes the assistance American colonists received from Marquis de Lafayette," Rep. Oberstar paid tribute in both flawless Francophonie Festival Europe in the struggle for independence from Great Britain." French and English to the extraordinary accomplishments of the Congressman Skelton recalls in his resolution that a number of cities young military officer and his contributions to Franco-American rela- and towns across the United States have demonstrated their esteem for the tions. Congressman Oberstar characterized the relationship as one in man by adopting his namesake. In Indiana, for example, there is Lafayette, which each nation must continue to "speak frankly, without hiding AMBASSADE DE FRANCE West Lafayette, Fayette, and Fayette Country. A life-size portrait of anything, continue to listen, to understand, and to get along. […] It is AUX ETATS-UNIS Lafayette also hangs in the U.S. House of Representatives. a great partnership that must be continued, and which is important In 2002, Senator John Warner (R-VA), a proud member of the French for the stability and security of the entire world." French Minister of Culture Visits the U.S. French Minister of Culture and Communication Renaud Donnedieu de the screening of Ms. Varda's Vabres traveled to the United States March 1-4 to visit New Orleans and New recent movie on the York City. Accompanied by French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte, Minister Righteous of France (see Donnedieu de Vabres kicked off his four-day tour in New Orleans, where he NFF-07.02,) which will paid homage to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This marked his second visit eventually be part of an exhi- ch 16, 2007 to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, taking place within the context of bition in the United States. Mar several ambitious cultural cooperation initiatives that have developed between esse/N.O. The French Minister France and Louisiana over the past year. concluded his visit to the / Faithful to the strong historic ties which link France to the state of Louisiana, United States on March 4 at Minister Donnedieu de Vabres spent his time in New Orleans inaugurating exhibits © Service de Pr the French Consulate, where which celebrate the strong French heritage in the city (see page 7.) Following his trip Minister Donnedieu de Vabres addresses he conferred the rank of to New Orleans, Minister Donnedieu de Vabres continued his tour of the U.S. in New guests in New Orleans Officer in the Légion York City on March 3. He first met with a delegation of French and American artists d'Honneur upon Philippe de Montebello, the French-born director of the and filmmakers for the 12th annual "Rendez-Vous with French Cinema," a French Metropolitan Museum of Art. Montebello's leadership has allowed the museum to film festival that took place in NYC from February 28 to March 11. The French nearly double in size over the past 20 years. The Minister praised the "farsighted lead- Minister then inaugurated "Jean-Michel Basquiat, French Collections," an exhibition ership" and "vigilant sense of stewardship" of Montebello, whom he described as one that features 41 works from the Brooklyn-born artist that were purchased by French of the "most eminent cultural figures" of New York City. "We celebrate your accom- collectors. Many of the exhibit's paintings are on display in the U.S. for the first time. plishments as one of the museum world's most influential spokespersons and espe- Later that evening,Minister Donnedieu de Vabres and French movie director Agnès cially highlight on this occasion your immeasurable contribution to French-American NEWS FROM FRANCE Varda met with leaders of the Jewish community at the French Consulate of NYC for cultural relations," Minister Donnedieu de Vabres proclaimed during the ceremony. 1 En bref current events L ’ÉVÉNEMENT SHIMON PERES RELEASES BIOGRAPHY Israeli Vice Prime Minister, Shimon Former French President Visits the U.S. Peres chose the French Consulate in New York for the U.S. launch of his Former President of France Valéry Giscard where their president, your president, has met with biography on February 26. American d'Estaing visited New York and Washington, an interlocutor whom he never saw again because and Israeli dignitaries, diplomats and D.C. from February 28 through March 2. of the rotating EU presidency," said Mr. Giscard media representatives were present at During his three-day visit in the nation's capital, d'Estaing.The former French president pleaded the event to celebrate Peres's achieve- the former French President met with promi- for a "partnership of values." He defined the Euro- ments. Michael Bar-Zohar, the author nent U.S.officials,including: President Bush,for- American relationship as "based on the same val- of Peres's biography, stated: "Shimon mer Secretary of State Colin Powell, Senator ues that have emerged from a common civiliza- Peres's achievements, his personality John Warner and Senator Chuck Hagel. He also tion," noting that "Europe and the US have a and his stubborn quest for peace have met with members of Washington think tanks whole raft of shared, deeply ingrained values, carried him far beyond Israel's borders. and media representatives. which means that they never will and can't be He is considered today one of the The former French President delivered a adversaries." To be successful, he explained, this world's great statesmen."One of Peres's lecture at Georgetown University (GU) on partnership should prevent "each party [from] many accomplishments includes sharing March 1 at the invitation of Dean Robert L. © Embassy of France/ Alicia Kenworthy interfering in the other's affairs, especially bringing the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 with Valéry Giscard d’Estaing Gallucci and the BMW Center of German and bilateral pressure to bear in the other's sphere, Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin for speaks at Georgetown European studies at GU, one of three "Centers while trying to divide its partner," noting that "in their efforts to promote peace in the Middle East. In light of this honor, Peres of Excellence" in North America devoted to the interdisciplinary particular, the EU's eventual enlargement to new members is a referenced French President Charles de study of Europe. Mr. Giscard d'Estaing addressed the audience strictly European matter." This partnership, representing 60% of Gaulle by joking that he is only as great on the subject of Euro-American relations in the 21st century, a the GNP, he added, should also be respectful of the others : "The as his quarrels and history will remem- relationship he characterized as a "very important and vital issue Euro-Atlantic partnership of values will have to ensure that it does ber him for his arguments, not his pres- of the diplomacy of tomorrow." not antagonize other cultures and other values(…) to prevent any tigious prizes. He continued by praising "In the past 50 years, relations between the United States and perception of isolation or frustration." the long relationship between Israel the countries of Europe have kept a bilateral character, or multi- Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was President of France from 1974- and France: "we had a golden age, lateral through NATO.