Top French honour for Central Bank Governor

Central Bank Governor Michael Bonello has been awarded the Officier de la Legion d'Honneur by the French Republic.

Conferring the honour on Mr Bonello, French Ambassador to Malta Jean Marc Rives said the most remarkable aspect of Mr Bonello's long career was the sense of service in national and international institutions.

Mr Rives praised Mr Bonello for his "extreme discretion hiding so much rigorous intellectual sharpness" and said he was a man of principle, values and conviction.

Mr Bonello was appointed governor of the Central Bank in 1999 after holding a number of senior posts at the UN offices in Geneva.

Mr Rives said Mr Bonello's integrity and independence was vital for the Central Bank, claiming that in his position, the governor had gained the respect and appreciation of his counterparts abroad, including the present governor of the Banque de France.