Vol. 12.02 News From France February 29, 2012 A free monthly review of French news & trends The Artist Makes Movie History, Wins Five Oscars For the first time in since 1929, a silent film has received top prizes at the Academy Awards. Nomi- nated for 10 categories, French sensation The Artist swept three of the most prestigious categories, in- cluding Best Picture, at the 84th Academy Awards on February 26. Both the film’s star, Jean Dujardin, and director, Michel Hazanavicius, won top prizes in their categories—Best Actor and Director, respectively. The picture also won Best Costume Design and Best Original Score. The Artist is a silent, black-and-white film that tells the story of a silent movie film star, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), in the golden age of 1920s Hollywood who sees his prestige and fame fade at the advent of “talkies.” Refusing to change to suit the times, it is only through the help of a young up-and-comer, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo,) that he is able to remain rel- evant and find his place in modern motion pictures. Following the ceremony, several prominent fig- ures in France expressed high praise for the movie and its success. President Nicolas Sarkozy offered his congratulations, saying that the film’s success demonstrates the “exceptional vitality” of the French movie business. Mr. Dujardin was clearly moved during his effusive acceptance speech, in which he mixed shouts for joy in both French and English. “I love your country,” he said at one point, referring to the United States. © A.M.P.A.S. Aside from the Oscars, The Artist has won six Cés- Michel Hazanavicius of The Artist turns to accept the 2011 Academy Award for Best Director. Congratulat- ars (France), one Goya (Spain), three Golden Globes ing him is Jean Dujardin, who played the film’s lead role. Mr. Dujardin later won the prize for Best Actor. (United States) and seven BAFTAs (UK). Social Networks: French Diplomacy’s New Frontier inside The French diplomatic community is looking to At the forefront of diplomatic social media, where Current Events 2 revolutionize the way it interacts both with French the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes to con- Interview with Defense Expert foreign nationals and the world at large. From Febru- tinue to increase its online presence, the agency France & America 3 ary 21 to 22, a conference hosted by the French Em- recently recognized the internet community’s im- Nuclear Experts Go to Congress bassy in Washington, D.C. brought together France’s portance in “international relations in general and press attachés from Canada, Mexico, and the United public diplomacy in particular.” The website “France In Depth 4 States to develop an understanding of how to pres- Diplomatie,” developed by the ministry, connects the Research Ship Finishes World Tour ent French diplomacy through the internet’s latest 163 embassies, 92 consulates, and 16 permanent Business & Tech 5 tools. Social media drove the agenda, and the com- missions (e.g., France’s delegation to the United Na- Start-Ups Seek Success in U.S. munications teams brainstormed best practices on tions) throughout the world. The site sees a monthly platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and the consular average of 1.6 million viewers. Society 6 websites. Globally, almost 100 of France’s embassies are active French, U.S. Libraries Partner on social media. These sites Culture 7 have millions of users and Mouth-Watering Myths in Paris thus have the potential of reaching large numbers of France in America 8 people. The Foreign Minis- Paintings and Photos Paired in D.C. try called the media a “new continent” in a February communiqué, one that “we News From France are all discovering, here at A free monthly review of French news & trends the dawn of the 21st cen- NFF is also available online at: ©Sylvain de Gelder ©Sylvain tury… [They put us] in con- www.ambafrance-us.org tact with all the new actors In a push to engage with stakeholders around the world, France’s Ministry of For- www.facebook.com/FranceInTheUS eign and European Affairs will be increasing its activity through online social media. that are evolving on the @franceintheus international scene.” NFF current events en bref Alain Juppé Addresses UN Minister Juppé Meets with Burmese Leaders in Pivotal Visit Security Council on Syria French Foreign Minister Alain Jup- and Burma. On January 31 the Minister of Foreign pé completed a two-day visit to Burma, On the heavily debated topic of and European Affairs, Alain Juppé, ad- where he met with Aung San Suu Kyi, EU sanctions against the country, the dressed the United Nations Security leader of the National League for De- minister told reporters, “We have to Council (UNSC) in New York over ef- mocracy, and President U Thein Sein examine the progress of the democ- forts to find a resolution to the contin- in Naypyidaw, the capital. In Rangoon, ratization process here in Burma and ued crackdown against pro-democra- Minister Juppé presented Ms. Suu Kyi we will discuss this with our partners cy demonstrations in Syria. Speaking the National Order of the Legion of in the EU. We will lift sanctions step briefly, he stated the need for an end Honor, France’s highest award. by step [based on] the progress of the to the Security Council’s deadlock over Mr. Juppé’s visit marked the first democratization and liberalization of the issue and reaffirmed France’s com- French ministerial visit to the country the regime.” Mr. Juppé called for the re- mitment to end the violence there. since 1988. After decades of isolationist lease of all remaining political prison- The minister urged the UNSC to accept military rule, Burma has recently taken ers, transparency in the parliamentary the Arab League’s proposed resolu- positive steps toward democratization. elections set for April, and reconcilia- tion, which called for Bashar al-Assad The minister commended the recent tion among ethnic groups. to step down and set up an “interim democratic progress in the country Mr. Juppé also stated that France unity government” in his place. In this and announced a threefold increase in will support the country’s reintegration arrangement, Syria would then pre- French foreign aid to Burma, which will into the international community and Zar Tay © Htoo pare for elections and enact security focus on humanitarian endeavors as eventually look to normalizing a num- Minister Juppé awarded reforms. well as the development of civil society ber of visa bans and trade regulations activist Aan San Suu Kyi. “The situation in Syria is appalling and bilateral relations between France held over from the previous regime. and is just getting worse… Everything must be done to put an end to the spiral of violence that has led to the bloody repression which we’ve seen interview with the expert for the past 10 months.” François Delmas, Strategic and Security Affairs European Space Agency Successfully Launches Vega To ward off the worst, France sends its best. From nuclear weapons to NATO, interna- tional security expert and Washington veteran François Delmas describes working for Europe’s newest spacecraft, Vega, was world safety like it’s his job. A News From France exclusive. successfully sent into orbit on Febru- © Romain Parlier ary 13th. The satellite was launched On the Iranian nuclear issue, Tehran insists its pro- as the Afghan people take on more and more self-rule. from the European Space Agency’s gram is for civilian uses only, but the international Let’s not forget that France has been engaged in Afghani- Spaceport in Kourou, French Guyana. community is convinced it’s for a weapon of mass de- stan from the outset. We have been strongly committed The Vega will increase Europe’s sat- struction. How have you been called to work on this? to the war in Afghanistan with no caveats, meaning that ellite-imaging capabilities as well as Let me say first that French-U.S. cooperation has been we fully engage in combat situations. French and U.S. sol- enable it to supply the International and is very strong, and we both want Iran to respect its diers have really been fighting shoulder-to-shoulder. Space Station. The launcher also im- international obligations. Following the worrisome report proves the efficiency of Europe’s space from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last A year ago this month, the new START treaty went into infrastructure by sharing the high cost November, France has been at the forefront of interna- effect, a landmark treaty in which the U.S. and Rus- of launches, research and develop- tional efforts to impose unprecedented sanctions on Iran. sia agreed to gradually reduce their nuclear weapon ment. Vega is the third launcher in the We’ve been working on a daily basis with U.S. officials try- stockpiles. As a nuclear power, how does France feel ESA’s space fleet. ing to coordinate efforts. about nuclear arms reduction by the first and second The Vega project began in 2003, with Cold War leaders? the cooperation of seven ESA mem- You spent time at the Center for Strategic and Inter- I think it’s very important because the U.S. and Russia are ber nations: Belgium, France, Italy, the national Studies (CSIS), a think tank. In what ways has by far the countries that own the most nuclear weapons Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Swit- this experience allowed you to adopt the “Washing- and systems. As for France, we are the only nuclear state zerland. Italian and French space agen- ton mindset” as a strategic affairs specialist? that decided to shut down and dismantle our facilities to cies alongside 40 industrial companies When you spend a year in one of the best, if not the best, produce more nuclear weapons.