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Ambassador Henri Paul voices solidarity with Romania's flood survivors on France's Day
At a reception party hosted by his residence in Bucharest on Wednesday evening to celebrate France's Day, French ambassador to Romania Henri Paul voiced the French people's solidarity with the victims of recent floods in Romania.
'First of all, as we are preparing to celebrate together this national day, I would like us to think for a moment about the people of the Romanian towns and villages who are victims or survivors of the recent floods. I am highly emotional about the images depicting the magnitude of this disaster; I understand the people's despair, I admire their courage and I want to express to them my and France's full solidarity with them,' Henri Paul said in a speech.
He also mentioned the economic crisis, saying that 2010 will undoubtedly go down in the memory of European and Romanians as a turning year.'After many years with significant growth, especially thanks to foreign investment attracted by the prospects for its European accession, Romania witnessed a very strong recession in 2009 and in 2010 it will continue to witness negative growth,' the ambassador said.
He added that strict economic measures are required in France and elsewhere in Europe and the public pension systems have to be rebalanced.'We also have to find, through deep and serious analysis of our strengths and weaknesses, ways and solutions for a new beginning. Yes, I do believe there will be an after and before the crisis,' said Henri Paul.He insisted that economic crisis should unite the European countries and the countries should not get out of the crisis disunited.
'The economic crisis should not make us give up on our values, on our efforts; on the contrary, it should strengthen what unites the peoples making up the European Union. They should not get out of the crisis disunited. This is the message President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to convey permanently, not in an arrogant, but in a strong manner. This will be the meaning of the French presidency of the G8 and the G20 groups in 2011,' said the ambassador.
In his speech, Henri Paul added that Romania can count on European solidarity, which has already been manifested in supporting assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and also on France's support.Henri Paul ended his speech saying, 'Long live Romania! Long live France!' , Agerpres reports.
France's Day was celebrated on Wednesday evening at a reception party extended by French ambassador in Bucharest Paul Henri.
The reception started with the 30th Guard Regiment singing the Romanian and the French national anthems. Next came speeches by the ambassador, Prime Minister Boc and Chairman of the Romanian Senate Mircea Geoana.