Création de l'association "France-Bahrein"

L'association "France Bahrein" a été créée à la demande de sa Majesté le Roi de Bahrain auprés de Monsieur Ajroudi afin de favoriser le développement des relations économiques, culturelles etc... entre la France et le Royaume de Bahrain.

Déclarée le 12 janvier 2009, l'association a inauguré son existence par une réception organisée par Monsieur Ajroudi le 29 avril 2009 à l'hôtel Four Seasons George V à Paris.

En présence de : Monsieur le Préfet de la région Ile De France, Monsieur l'Ambassadeur de Bahrain en France, le PDG de l'institut du Monde Arabe, Monsieur le Secrétaire d'Etat à l'aménagement du territoire, le représentant du Sénat aux affaires internationales, les conseillers du Président de la République Française, la Mairie de Paris représentée par les adjoints au Maire et divers groupes d'entrepreneurs dont AREVA, CNIM et GREFICOMEX.

Le chef de cabinet de Monsieur FALCO et sa femme - Monsieur AJROUDI - Madame AJROUDI

Monsieur AJROUDI - Monsieur le Prefet d'Ile De France et son assistante - Marie-France CHRISTOPHE-TCHAKALOFF - Monsieur François CANELLAS - Monsieur DMITRIEFF

Marie-France CHRISTOPHE-TCHAKALOFF pendant son discours - Monsieur AJROUDI

Xavier RAUFER - Monsieur AJROUDI - Alain BAUER

Le discours :

TRANSLATED SPEECH

ASSOCIATION FRANCE -BAHREIN

Reception 4/29/09 GEORGE V PARIS

"My address to :

the Regional Prefect of Ile de France, Prefect of Paris

his Excellency, Ambassador of the Kingdom of BAHRAIN in France

the President of the Institute of the Arab World

Dear Madams, Dear Sirs, Dear Friends,

I have the great honor and great pleasure to welcome you tonight as you have come to celebrate the founding of our FRANCE- BAHREIN association.

His Majesty Hamad ben Issa El KHALIFAH, King of Bahrain, inspired the idea of the founding of the association in early October 2008 in order to express and strengthen the tight links which exist between our two countries.

Our association was set up, eventually registered on January 2009 and is composed of the following board of direction :

President, Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa, former Ambassador of the Kingdom of BAHRAIN in Paris

Two Vice Presidents :

Mr Mohamed Ajroudi a genuine bridge between the East and the West

And myself, Marie France Christophe-Tchakaloff

General Secretary

Mr Jean Pierre Servel, lawyer in Toulon

You may easily notice that our entity is geographically well represented !

Our purpose is to bridge and deepen French-Bahrein cooperation in every possible field : economic, industrial, cultural, medical and so forth.

But before going further, let me introduce you simply the Kingdom of Bahrain :

Bahrain is a 700 km2 archipelago composed of 33 islands located in the Persian Gulf. One bridge links it to Saudi Arabia on the West and very soon to come, a second bridge that will link the kingdom to Qatar. Its population, 1.4 million inhabitants, is quite similar to Qatar although the number of expatriates is less important.

As for its history, Bahrain is rooted long ago as early as prehistoric times. Various archeological sites date back from 2000, 4000, or even 6000 years B.C discovered thanks to the work of important archeological missions, even a French team is on the site presently.

Small Portuguese forts confirm the country’s strategic position in the region. As an example, until the end of the 19 th century the exploitation of important fine pearl cultures has made Bahrain’s prosperity. The fine natural pearls of various colours (white, blue or pink) and species you might find there are so rare and precious that you can hardly find them in Place Vendome today but only in museums or private rich collections.

His Majesty King Hamad, on the throne since 1999, is an intellectual liberal who heads his country with an open vision on the world with full concern on its harmonious development. Apart from the country’s historical link to Great Britain, the King has shown a proven and respectful interest towards France and its government. I can also assert that the President of the French Republic shares common feelings of high respect and admiration to the King.

Politically speaking, Bahrain’s true democratic liberalism is rather exceptional in this region.

The country has a bicameral parliament, a strong judicial authority, and Fundamental Freedom Rights are protected whether human or gender equity rights.

Major service sectors, mainly banking, has ensured Bahrain an important economic activity and in this troubled time of world economic and financial turmoil the country has shown strong resistance avoiding risky speculations.

Today Bahrain is a modern country which intends to pursue its industrial progress focusing on sustainable development even in peak sector technologies. French companies are to be part of such projects.

The presence of the CNIM, Constructions Industrielles pour la Mediterrannee, tonight can confirm it as the firm is to build a huge waste recycling plant.

The kingdom is also interested in extending its cultural and educational cooperation with France and academic training programmes at many levels are to be further developed.

You can see that our association’s goal is to give true reinforcement of the existing friendship between France and Bahrain, enlarging the bonds already existing.

Finally, let me wish you a pleasant evening and greet our association with a famous sailor saying ‘good riddance’."