Page 15 - Monaco Economy 123

What did you learn from your experience as sensitive subjects which agitate our societies
a judge and then Section President at the and which are submitted to the examination
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)? of the Court of Strasbourg, find themselves,
Is that a dream job for a magistrate? under multiple aspects, also discussed in
Deciding on new questions and new problems, multilateral forums or approached in the
discussing, debating, deliberating with context of bilateral relations; and in each
colleagues from 46 other countries and function, I have fully invested myself so that
nationalities, those nine years spent at the the Principality takes its full place.
Court were stimulating and exhilarating: they
taught me to put things into perspective and
forced me to question received ideas and “… those nine
prejudices. The ECHR bears an enormous
responsibility on the European stage and years spent at
has a legal and moral obligation to best the Court were
interpret and apply the rights of the European
Convention on Human Rights in and for stimulating and
today’s society. Each judge comes to the
Court with their past, a personal story and exhilarating…”
convictions but the strength of the Court
is that it is composed of judges who have
different backgrounds, which allows real In what state of mind did you start your
complementarity on the basis of total position as Minister for Foreign Affairs
equality between all the judges. I admire the and Cooperation?
jurisdiction of Strasbourg, I find it unique I approach these new functions that HSH
and irreplaceable. I will remain immensely Prince Albert II was kind enough to entrust
proud to have been a member, because in to me with great humility. There is no greater
the background is the defence of a certain pride than being the representative of a
conception of human rights, to be free, equal centuries-old history, the vector of a world-
to one’s fellows, to enjoy the dignity and famous image – even if it is sometimes
values inherent in humanity. necessary to fight certain stubborn clichés
- and be the promoter of political, economic
“Being a and cultural aspects of the Principality;
but it is also a great responsibility. I am
magistrate is not
© Manuel Vitali / Direction de la Communication only a function, dynamic desired by HSH Prince Albert II
determined to pursue with energy the new
for the international influence of Monaco.
it is also a
On a daily basis and with great pleasure,I
am with the dynamic and committed team
commitment to
of the Department for Foreign Affairs and
Cooperation, with whom I was in contact
others”
during my duties as ambassador. I emphasise
with great satisfaction that this is a
Did your «retraining» in diplomacy come department whose management positions
You are a magistrate by training. Why did naturally? are all occupied by women of great value and
you choose this area initially? Was it a From 2015 to 2021, I had the honour of I am delighted about this. If I take a look at
vocation? representing the Principality of Monaco my professional career, I would say that its
Very early on, I felt attracted by a judicial abroad as an ambassador, first in Germany, common denominator is the defence of the
career which subsequently brought me a Austria and Poland, and with international values to which I am very attached: values
lot of satisfaction, so I naturally followed organisations in Vienna, then in Belgium, of justice, equality, respect for fundamental
a university course at the Faculty of Law in Luxembourg and the Netherlands and with rights, protection of the weakest and most
Nice, before being admitted to the National the European Union. In reality, these two vulnerable - and not forgetting ethics.
School for the Judiciary in Paris. Being a functions are not as far apart as it may seem
magistrate is not only a function, it is also at first glance. My duties as a judge at the What is your vision of the role of Monégasque
a commitment to others. It was in this state ECHR allowed me to enter a multicultural diplomacy today?
of mind that I practised for 17 years within and international sphere that I rediscovered I repeat it often: openness to the world, for
the Monégasque jurisdiction. once in post in Berlin and Brussels. All the the Principality, is more than a choice, it is an

15
15