Liberty, equality, fraternity: French values can help meet challenges, says envoy

French values of liberty, equality and fraternity can help confront modern day challenges.

This was said by the French Ambassador Martine Dorance in a Bastille Day message to be celebrated on July 14th.

“Bastille Day on the 14th of July embodies the spirit of the French Revolution and the universal motto that defined the French people’s values: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity,” a press statement quoted the envoy as saying.

In the testing times the world is going through, these values that we are celebrating together today are more than ever our best guide, I would even say our best moral compass, to confront together the current challenges we face, she said.

I would like firstly to convey the full solidarity of France with the authorities and the people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism, the ambassador said.

France was itself victim of several heinous terrorist attacks last year. In these painful moments for both our countries, let me reassure that France recognises the sacrifices and supports Pakistan in its endeavours, she said.

Our two countries have enjoyed close bilateral ties for decades. Be it politically, militarily, economically, or in our cultural and educational cooperation, our two nations have found common ground, which has made our relationship stronger, the envoy said.

She said, “I am glad, after a year and a half in Pakistan, to see this relation grow even stronger. We have these past months, multiplied bilateral contacts in all domains, at the highest level.”

The envoy stressed, “Cooperation in education, academia, science and culture is one of our priorities.”

In 2015, on top of a programme of post-doc scholarships, 85 scholarships were granted for students to follow a master’s or a thesis in France, in fields as diverse as health, management, biology, law, in cooperation with the HEC, the ambassador said.

The Embassy of France also finances around 200 need-based scholarships for underprivileged students, especially in remote regions of Pakistan, the statement said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2016.