The Ambassador of France to Seychelles H.E. Mme. Olivia Berkeley-Christmann paid a Courtesy Call on the Hon. Speaker Roger Mancienne on the morning of Monday 2nd October 2023. Ambassador Berkeley-Christmann was accompanied by Mr. Martin Albert, a Diplomat from the Africa and Indian Ocean Department of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. Hon. Mancienne was accompanied by the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Ms. Alexandria Faure.
The Ambassador began by thanking the Hon. Speaker and noted that this meeting was important to continually improve parliamentary relations between France and the Seychelles. Mr. Albert was introduced, and it was noted that his role as a Diplomat in the Indian Ocean spans across Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles. In his current visit to Seychelles, Mr. Albert is in the process of engaging with both the Government and the Legislature with the goal of reinvigorating bilateral cooperation and promoting the engagement of Francophone groups within the Indian Ocean.
The Hon. Speaker noted these pertinent discussion points and agreed that the reinforcement of parliamentary relations between the two countries is long overdue. Discussions moved to the important roles of the International Affairs Committee (IAC) and the Defence and Security Committee (DSC) of the National Assembly and how their responsibilities and ongoing mandates promote the interconnectedness and development of cooperation between various countries and the Seychelles. Hon. Mancienne and the Ambassador also briefly discussed the potential opportunities of education and development on a parliamentary level regarding mutually stimulating topics such as the promotion of democracy and environmental protection, with an emphasis on Seychelles youth participation.
The Hon. Speaker concluded that despite the small size of our country and of the National Assembly, there was a strong willingness to move forward with such developments in parliamentary cooperation. Ambassador Berkeley-Christmann thanked the Speaker for his engagement, and the meeting came to a close.
