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in Europe. As I said, Monaco attaches great amongst donor states to the Office of the of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the
importance to respect for international law, High Commissioner for Refugees, concretely United Nations, a decade of development has
sovereignty, independence and territorial illustrating our commitment to the rights been swept away in the poorest countries
integrity. This is a constant in the positions of refugees. This is also the case with the - not to mention the consequences of the
we take in diplomatic matters. In these World Food Programme which acts against conflict in Ukraine….Monaco’s Department
difficult times, the Principality is alongside hunger. It should be noted that these two of International Cooperation must act as
the Ukrainian population and we support examples (refugees and food aid) are, a buffer against the effects of multiple
all initiatives that would allow military unfortunately, the consequences of the constraints (pandemics, conflicts, crises,
operations to cease as quickly as possible war waged by Russia against Ukraine and climate change, food insecurity) which weigh
and dialogue to be resumed. the period of severe drought which has down, above all, on the most vulnerable
been raging for several months in parts of populations.
Have you had any contact with President the world, sadly increasing the likelihood
Zelenskyy? of famines which could occur in many At what stage are negotiations with the
I have not had any contact with President countries, mainly in Africa and in the poorest European Union?
Zelenskyy but I was able to speak at length Arab countries. Since 2015, we have been negotiating an
with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Monaco, association agreement, which consists of
Vadym Omelchenko, during his visit to the So, is the priority to fight against poverty? defining, in a stable and lasting manner, the
Principality. How and in which countries? future framework of our relations with our
Responding to the UN’s sustainable European neighbours. The objective is to
You are in charge of Monégasque development goals, the main objective of the recognise that Monaco, as a city-state, must
cooperation and development aid. Have development cooperation policy conducted be able to preserve its national identity and
the priorities for this aid changed? by the Prince’s government is to fight against its economic model, the dynamism of which
In addition to the defence of its interests poverty by promoting access for the most benefits the entire region. Our situation is
supported by its diplomatic and consular vulnerable to their fundamental rights: health, unique in the world: a constrained territory,
network, the Principality, following the will security, food and nutrition, education/ a minority national population in their own
of its princes, has resolutely positioned child protection and access to decent work. country and strong international appeal. This
itself internationally as a committed These rights are often flouted and it is our is what is at stake in this negotiation and
player in the sustainable development duty to act for the dignity and development this is the position that we have defended
of the planet and the implementation of of everyone. Our interventions in the form from the outset, in accordance with the
objectives adopted by the United Nations of projects led by specialised partners instructions of HSH Prince Albert II. We
for 2030. Pursuing this ambition, Monaco specifically target the most vulnerable have made good progress on the technical
essentially contributes through solidarity to groups in 11 priority countries, located points in the context of the examination
the fundamental values of peace, respect mainly in Africa and Madagascar: children, of the adoption of the European benefits.
for human rights and tolerance. Thus, women, people with disabilities and refugees/ The negotiation team on the European side
the development cooperation policy has displaced people. changed at the end of 2021 and we hope to
continuously benefited from a strengthening be able to hold a political discussion this
of its resources over the years. Are these initiatives for the long term? year with the new unit in charge of our case,
The Department of International Cooperation so that we have a vision on the future of the
What is the share of the state budget is in charge of development cooperation. Its negotiations.
dedicated to development aid? achievements are
The overall amount of official development guided for periods
assistance (ODA) has increased from of three years by
€1 million annually in the mid-2000s to a strategic plan
around €21.5 million in 2022. This amount which defines its
will be constantly increasing over the next main objectives. The
three years. Development cooperation significant increase
accounts for 80% of total ODA. The in the m ea ns
remaining 20%, which is just as important, granted is part of
is devoted to supporting the Principality’s a context where,
political positions in international forums, for the first time in © Manuel Vitali / Direction de la Communication
particularly with regard to human rights, more than 20 years,
peace, security and the environment. In extreme poverty
relation to our population, this places us has in cr e ased,
regularly at the top of the lists drawn up by particularly in 2020
international organisations. For example, under the effects of Monaco has sheltered several refugee families. Four Ukrainian student dancers, two girls and two boys,
in 2022 Monaco ranks first, per capita, the consequences have been welcomed into the Princess Grace Dance Academy.

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