CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS: 3 QUESTIONS TO MR GEORGES MARSAN
The focus this year is on Provençal tradition – is this because you wanted to recreate a particular atmosphere?
Transformed into an authentic little Provençal-style village, Monaco harbour will take you back to the 19th century, to the time of Daudet’s famous Mill.
Just here, a small bridge stretches across a brook, over there, a wash house conjures up images of yesteryear… a bit further away, you'll find a stable, a bakery and even a farm recreating memories of the past. The crib theme was chosen by the Municipal Council on 19th June 2007 and we have worked on it a great deal. In the village, other activities cast an eye back to Christmas past. Among them, the “Thirteen desserts” game - a quiz on Monegasque traditions. There is also a stall where visitors with a sweet tooth will have the opportunity to taste the thirteen delights.
What are the focal points of the Christmas Village this year?
First of all, an exhibition featuring 160 cribs illustrating the various cultures across the globe. This is an exceptional event that will not only appeal to connoisseurs, who are many, but also to all visitors, as the crib evokes our childhood and brings a universal message. For the end-of-year festivities, a light show will be given by the Mairie of Monaco, in partnership with the S.M.E.G., on the Rocher. The display will feature a series of scenes recalling the 4 elements of our environment: water, fire, earth and air. It will take place from 21st December 2008 to 1st January 2009 at the same venue as last year by the company “Accord Son & Lumière”. Furthermore, the village will be a life-size crib in which visitors can immerse themselves completely. As every year, an ice rink will be set up in the heart of the village and also offer visitors the opportunity to try out electric go-karting on ice. The International Hockey Tournament on Ice “Pee-Wee” will take place from 30th December to 4th January.
What activities have been specifically planned for children?
The automatons in the main square of the village will delight all little ones, as will the farm animals in the sheepfold. There will also be a little train, a carousel, a big wheel, fun activities, donkey rides…. At weekends, on Wednesdays and during the school holidays, various workshops will be available to children free of charge. On Thursday 25th December, a parade of artists, led by Father Christmas will take place in Port Hercule. Last but not least, on Sunday 4th January, a big closing parade featuring the Three Wise Men accompanied by camels, will march through the village.
THE EXTENSION INTO THE SEA ... .. POSTPONED!
The Minister of State Jean-Paul Proust, flanked by all his advisers, during a press conference, has officially declared that the selected projects are two: the company MCDC’s project and the one of Monte Carlo Sea-Land."The consultation is finished - said Proust – for now Prince Albert of Monaco has decided that the contract will not award to any company. Considering the current international context, a financial commitment can not be confirmed today. At the same time, the Sovereign wants to be sure that there is no negative environmental impact in the realization of this project, because the day it will be realized, it will have to be exemplary from all points of view". The new year will be entirely devoted to the project which will be examined by environmental experts. The minister Robert Calcagno explained that the ecological aspects will be analysed by important specialists as Professor Jeremy Holden from the Florida Institute of Oceanography, the Danish Jacob Moller leader in environmental protection in the Earth and Link’s project, and then Italian, French, Norwegian specialists in different topics but all involved. Artificial barriers will be considered in order to recreate the conditions conducive to biodiversity, as well as the study of currents that carry oxygen and their potential weir that could increase the sedimentation and so impairing posedonia, etc.
The first meeting of super experts will take place on 19th January 2009.Jean-Paul Proust finally announced that on 24th December will take place at the Auditorium Rainier III, an exhibition of all projects submitted to the public competition for the futuristic new district.The postponement is not caused by a financial difficulty of the Principality, quite another thing. Suffice it to say that over the next two years 2 billion euros will be spent for the realization of urban projects, which are under construction and works start-up.
The second theme of the press conference was the international economic crisis.
The Minister of State explained that it is crucial for the government to support all those businesses and industries that might be in difficulty because of the crisis. The aid will come from direct financial support or through banks, through decreased social deductions, tax and lettings (in the latter case, if the company is in government rental), or aid to supplement unemployment technique to keep their job and the wage purchasing power. This is the way the Principality reacts to the crisis!
RAPPORTEURS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (PACE) MONITORING COMMITTEE RECEIVED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
As part of their third visit to the Principality, MM. Pedro AGRAMUNT and Leonid SLOUTSKY, co-Rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Monitoring Committee on Monaco, had discussion for over one hour with the President of the National Council, Wednesday 8th October. (*)
Stéphane VALERIE, surrounded by the Vice-President, Mr. Bernard Marquet, the President of the Foreign Relations Commission, Jean-Charles GARDETTO and his Chief of Staff, reviewed the legislative progress expected by the Council of Europe. It took place after the last visit of the co-Rapporteurs in June 2006, as it is known by the vote of the Law on Justice and Freedom in December 2007. It is directed to strengthen procedural safeguards in criminal matters, during the preliminary investigation stage and the remand and the adoption of the law on criminal responsibility of legal persons in June 2008.
Regarding the law on freedom of association, which was part of the commitments made by Monaco upon accession, the President of the National Council confirmed his intention to include it on the agenda of a public legislative meeting before the end of the year. However, he regretted that the Government's decision to withdraw the draft law on financial control on subsidized agencies, should lead Parliament to renounce his amendment on bidding competive call for suppliers for the most heavily subsidized associations in order to avoid the risk of withdrawing the text.
The Co-Rapporteurs recalled that the Council of Europe is still waiting for the ratification by the Principality of the European Social Charter and the Convention on Cybercrime. Regarding the law to modernize the functioning of the National Council, President Valerie recalled the proposals contained in the text of the draft law adopted by the Assembly in June 2005 before being withdrawn by the Government. He said that following the request of the new opposition to have time to study the Government's proposals, a plenary commission would be held at the end of October 2008 in order to take a concerted position among the elected members before a forthcoming meeting with the Government under the joint working group.
Representatives of the National Council have confirmed their willingness to work in good cooperation with the Government to quickly lead to a law that inscribes in the texts the rights recognized to the opposition since 2003 (right to information, participation in delegations of the Assembly as well as to committees and joint committees for study, equal speaking time for each elected member...), as well as to ensure greater independence of Parliament vis-à-vis the executive.
At the end of the discussion, representatives of the National Council recalled the importance that the Government respects the prerogatives of the National Council enshrined in the Constitution, as for example to provide accurate and transparent information in the context of Consideration of Budget. This is an essential condition for a constructive political debate for the country which allows Assembly to play completely its role.
They recalled the effort of transparency achieved in five years by the National Council, including the televising of all important discussions, uncut dissemination of public meetings on the Internet and online as soon as they deposit, projects and legislative proposals in order to make them accessible to everybody on the the National Council’s website.
FIRST VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL BY H.E.MR. FRANCO MISTRETTA
ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO MONACO
Today, the President Stéphane Valerie has received at the National Council, H. E. Mr. Franco Mistretta, Italian Ambassador to Monaco, on the occasion of his recent assumption of duties. The first meeting has taken place in a very warm atmosphere. For nearly an hour they faced the theme of the Monegasque institutions and more particularly the role of the National Council within them, as well as the main questions of special interest, notably the situation of the Italian community of Monaco, 7 000-strong citizens and nearly 5 000 borders working in the Principality of Monaco. H.E.Mr. Franco Mistretta announced to the President of the National Council the first meeting, of the joint Italian-Monegasque Committee in the coming weeks. It will work in particular on improving transports and promoting the installation of Monegasque companies in Italy. The Ambassador of Italy has also requested to know the Monegasque elected members of Italian origin, because his Government is considering to identify parliamentarians of Italian origin working all over the world. President Valeri also welcomed the dynamism of parliamentary relations between Italy and the Principality and confirmed the willingness of Monegasque elected members to strengthen further friendly relations and cooperation with the Italian elected members. It will be realized in 2009, by creating a group of Friendship Monaco / Italy between the two parliaments.
H.E.MR MARIO POLVERINI, ITALIAN AMBASSADOR IN MONACO, RECEIVED TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
The President of the National Council, Stéphane Valeri, received H. E. Mr Mario Polverini, Ambassador of Italy in the Principality of Monaco, in occasion of his forthcoming leaving from Monaco, on September 30th, in order to hold his new position as International Relations Manager of Milan 2015 Universal Exhibition.
They rejoiced in the excellent relations between Italy and Monaco which rely on the Italian community, composed about by 7000 citizens as well as about 5000 frontier workers. Italians are also the first community for tourism in Monaco. H. E. Mr Polverini presented to the President of the National Council the next position of a joint italian-monegasque Committee which will work in particular on improving transports and promoting the installation of Monegasque companies in Italy.
The proposed establishment of a friendship group Monaco / Italy between the two parliaments was also discussed as well as the official visit, to this end, in 2009, of Gianfranco Fini, President of Italian Chamber of Deputies. On behalf of the National Council, Stéphane Valeri wished to H. E. Mr Mario Polverini the biggest success for the prosecution of his career.
PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS OF MR. FRANCO MISTRETTA,
AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO THE PRINCIPLAITY OF MONACO
Presentation of credentials of Mr. Franco Mistretta Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Italy to the Principality of Monaco
During the late morning on 8th October, at the Prince’s Palace the officila Ceremony took place in which H. E. Mr. Franco Mistretta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Italy presented his credentials to the Principality of Monaco.
Mr. Franco Mistretta was accompanied for the occasion by Mrs Orietta Palazzoli, First Counselor for the Embassy. After being welcomed in the Cour d'Honneur of the Palace by the Company of Carabinieri guard of honour under the command of Colonel Yannick Bersihand, Senior Commander of the Police Force, Ambassador Franco Mistretta was taken to the Hall of Mirrors by H.S.H. the Prince’s Chamberlain, Colonel Luc Fringants, with Mrs. Orietta Palazzoli.
Mr. Franco Mistretta then proceeded to present his credentials to H. S. H. Sovereign Prince, who was accompanied by the Secretary of State Mr Jacques Boisson, the Chief of Staff Mr George LISIMACHIO, and H.E. Mr Franck Biancheri, Government Counsellor for Foreign Relations and for International Economic and Financial Affairs. After the ceremony, H.S.H the Prince held a private audience with the Ambassador in the family drawing room.
Consular relations existed since 15 May 1870. Currently, Monaco is represented in Italy by a network of fourteen Consulates, under the authority of the Ambassador of Monaco to Rome.
From an environmental viewpoint, a quadripartite Convention in cooperation between the Government, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Mercantour National Park and the Marittime Alps Park was signed on 19 September 2008.
On a wider scale, Italy provides an important support to the implementation of ACCOBAMS.
At the regional level, it is the RAMOGE Agreement and the Sanctuary for marine mammals, where Italian Delegations are particularly active and make substantial resources.
The Principality has also supported the candidature of Rome to host the Secretariat of the GFCM (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
"THE EXTENSION WILL BE REALISED," SAID MINISTER OF STATE OF MONACO
Neither image, or model. Yet the extension project into the sea in Monaco is taking shape slowly. Island or peninsula off enough of the beach Larvotto, it will look like a cape towards East, embedded in the landscape and eco-aware. It is the outline presented to the press Tuesday 30th September by His Excellency Mr. Jean-Paul Proust, Minister of State of the Principality, in a report on the famous town planning extension project into the sea in Monaco. Monaco gouvernment plans to contribute to this ambitious project that should be realized from 2011. But it is not known yet who will be responsible for its implementation. "The name of the group selected will be known before Christmas at the latest before the end of February 2009," said Mr. Proust. However, the gouvernment chose two of the five teams which were selected after the call for applications in July 2006: Monte-Carlo Development Company and Monte Carlo Sea-Land.
Both projects planned by architects Norman Forster and Daniel Libeskind were privileged on the basis of technical and urbanistic criteria. But "the competition is not over and now nobody is eliminated," emphasized the Minister of State of Monaco. In effect it must be still assessed the financial viability of the five groups that compete for a representative market between 5 and ten billion euros. A decisive factor in the current financial storm.
"We will focus on the provision of equity capital compared to bank financing," Jean-Paul Proust said. Additional information will be requested to candidates to clarify, refine and supplement the financial aspects of projects. In fact, the Minister of State says : "The State of Monaco wants to keep control of operations throughout the process but it wants to do it with financial guarantees for good aims." "We hope for funding provided over a period of ten years," the head of the Government of the Principality said.
"Working to clarify the financial model" and appoint the winner of the extension into the sea, such are the upcoming deadlines for the Monegasque authorities. The winner should be known next February at the latest. Beyond this role, the State also plans to make financial contributions as part of the right to build which it reserves. But the Head of Government said with determination, "there will be no funding from the Reserve Fund”. It is the opportunity for Jean-Paul Proust to remind, in this period of financial turmoil, the main role of this specificity of Monaco whose amount approaches 5 billion euros: "The Principality is protected by its Reserve Fund. It is our security, especially if the crisis will continue" he concluded.
Projects Exhibition
Once the winner for extension of urbanism into the sea will be designated by the end of February 2009, a process in three phases will start: technical preparation of the project, the construction of the slab and then the achievement of super-structures provided for 2011. Meanwhile, Jean-Paul Proust, Minister of State of the Principality of Monaco, has promised, after the designation of the winner, a large exhibition addressed to the public. It will present the five projects developed by the teams which group together the leading architects in the world.
CHRISTIAN DE BOISSIEU: "MONACO IS RELATIVELY SPARED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS"
No financial market can not say it is outside the international crisis. But it is true that Monaco is relatively spared, " the President of the Commission for Financial Activities Control, Christian de Boissieu, said during the presentation of its annual report in Monaco. The expert, also Deputy Chairman of Economic Analysis to the Prime Minister of France, spoke before an audience of professionals (bankers, accountants ...) and personalities, including Mr. Gilles Tonelli, the Government Counsellor for Finance and the Economy.
“We stand together. However, I remain relatively optimistic about the ability of Monaco to be spared from the financial crisis”. With these words, Christian de Boissieu opened Thursday, 25th September, the meeting of the activities report of 2007 of the Commission for Control of Financial Activities. The renowned economist has been chairing the CFAC since September 2007, when it was created. The commission, set up thanks to the texts voted by the National Council (Parliamentary Assembly), allows the Monaco financial market and dealers to diversify activities and financial instruments, in the spirit of what has been proposed in 2007 by the report Blain, Mr de Boissieu recalled.
Since its installation on 20th September 2007 (see box), the Committee has been accrediting (or not) management companies, supervising and controlling, under the auspices of the Commission Bancaire of the Banque de France and the support of the Comité des Etablissements de Crédit et des Entreprises(CECEI). During the presentation of activities in 2007, Jean-Castellini, Secretary General of the CFC, has highlighted the lack of "criminal acts subject to legal proceedings." With regard to the tasks of inspection, he emphasized that the Commission does not "judge the pertinence of products." He added: "The regulator is here to accompany the Market without making his promotion, although its role has an influence on this promotion."
Among its objectives, the CFC promised to pursue the signing of bilateral agreements, especially with regard to financial crimes: "We try the chance of international cooperation," Christian de Boissieu said.
Monaco enters a ‘no smoking’ era
The anti tobacco law was finally passed by a unanimous vote at the National Assembly; ‘a law that we have waited for 5 years’ commented National Representative Jean-Charles Gardetto. However this delay was deemed necessary to create the consensus by 24 Members of Parliament. After Italy, in January 2005 and France, in January 2008 ‘it was high time that Monaco fell into line’ added National Councillor Jean Francois Robillon; thus Monaco will become smoke free from the second half of November 2008. However some Monaco companies have already banned smoking in their offices and many restaurants likewise. Bernard Lambert, the director of SBM continues “SBM does not see casino proceeds decreasing due to the new law, Player does not necessarily mean smoker,” Bernard Lambert estimates that 50 percent of his casino clientele do not smoke and this is possibly because of a three month smoking ban at the Café de Paris and a year and a half ban at the Sun Casino’s tables. All the other casinos will create smoker’s areas in the next few months.
SAS Albert II meets Sarkozy at the summit on 25th of April
Tax and Mediterranean Union: these will be the themes of talks between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Our Sovereign during the president’s visit to Monaco on 25th of April. These meetings will enhance an already cordial relationship between the two countries and consolidate the principality’s place in the international scene. On the agenda is the cooperation between Monaco and the National Mercantour Park and a possible appointment of reciprocal officers. At the moment this occurs only under short term contract. This agreement permits Monaco to choose its most important officers also for state functions under a regular contract and not only for a short term or trainee's contract. Finally the two leaders will tackle the projects related to the Mediterranean Environment issues.
A NEW CONFIRMATION FOR THE OPENING?
Last 14th February Stéphane Valeri e Bernard Maquet won the elections and got their rules of President and Vice President of the National Counsel of Monaco. 6 Commissions Presidents have renewed their promises: Catherine Fautrier, Brigitte Boccone-Pagès, Michèle Dittlot (culture and patrimony), Claude Cellario (law), Jean-Charles Gardetto (external relations), Alexandre Bordero (social interests and different affairs), Pierre Svara (head of commission for Economics and Finance), Fabrice Notari (head of commission for Logistics), Anne Poyard-Vatrican (Vice President and Commission for the environment).