A committed European

Author and journalist Daniel Rondeau, the popular outgoing Ambassador of France to Malta, will, next week, be one of the aspiring candidates in an election to membership to the prestigious Académie Française.

It only takes four, five countries to start building a new European heart

The exclusive French academy of authors and thinkers, founded by King Louis XIII’s chief minister Cardinal Richilieu in1635, consists of 40 members, known as immortels, who elect new members for life.

The ambassador will be taking his new post as France’s ambassador to Unesco on Thursday, after a three-year diplomatic relationship with the island.

“My new post would surely allow me to create new links between Malta and Unesco,” he proposed amicably.

Mr Rondeau has been re-searching the Mediterranean for 25 years. He wrote books on Tangiers, Istanbul and Alexandria and spent a long time visiting Lebanon during its recent tragedy, but sitting in his garden at Żebbuġ observing the orange trees blossom year after year is different from being a nomad.

“Malta became the Mediterranean base I always longed for. Here I could better comprehend Europe’s roots in the Orient, the beginnings of civilisation in this inner sea. My new book Malta Ħanina, being launched in January will record my memoirs of Malta.”

Mr Rondeau will be remembered for the many cultural activities the French Embassy organised in Malta. He pointed out that many foreigners first learn about France through its writers: Hugo, Balzac, Baudelaire; politicians come later. On both shores of the Mediterranean people find out about justice, love and values through Hugo, Camus. “For me it was obvious that culture and diplomacy are not found in two separate corners,” he explains.

Malta in the French press

During his term Mr Rondeau seized every opportunity to promote Malta in the French press, writing and inviting journalists from L’Express, Le Figaro, Le Monde, TV and radio. He is happy to learn that tourists from France increased by 10 per cent during the years he has been among us.

“French tourists come to Malta not only because of my articles but also because of the way they view the Mediterranean. We share a history with the Levant, North Africa and Malta. France wants to share Malta’s hopes and its problems. We chose not to leave Malta alone in coping with the waves of immigrants and twice, during the past three years, organised trips to take a generous number of immigrants to France.

“Perhaps the most important project I undertook during my stay on the island was the Mediterranean voyage of Ulysses in 2009, when 30 writers and poets from Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Malta, France, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon, including the French Nobel prize winner Le Clézio, travelled to Beirut stopping en route in Tunis, Tripoli and Limassol.

The Libyan conflict

For sure the Tunisian and Libyan conflicts were not on the books when Daniel Rondeau set foot at his embassy office in Valletta in 2008. Was the situation difficult to handle? “Not difficult, interesting. In fact, I would like to thank the Maltese authorities, the Armed Forces and the airport authorities for welcoming over 30 emergency landings by French pilots so professionally. For them every emergency meant a quick transition from danger to safety.

“France is always on the side of freedom fighters. We wish Libyans a bright future but we are not naïve. Democracy will surely be difficult after so many years of oppression. Take Russia as an example: after 70 years of Communism it was not easy to deal straightaway with democracy. Even France and England, two of the oldest democracies in Europe, took a long time to achieve and safeguard democracy.”

England and France

For many centuries France and England fought each other on land and sea but now another era seems to be dawning. Joint projects produced the Eurotunnel, the Airbus, a combined aircraft-carrier, the military intervention in Libya.

“André Malraux,” points out Mr Rondeau, “once wrote that when the United Kingdom was great it was great for itself; when France was great it was great for others. France loves to foster its new links with the UK. It is enough to remember the Free French in London during World War II. We are old enemies, we are old friends,” he adds with a smile.

When asked for his opinion on the euro crisis the outspoken ambassador promptly declares that being a French patriot makes him a committed European.

“Europe was born after World War II through a complex friendship with Germany. Today’s crisis seems to be financial. Though I am not so sure it is just finance that is creating havoc. There is also a political crisis. If Europeans want European power we need long-term policies on education, research and defence.

“Sometimes I feel Europeans are like the spoilt children of the world – we want peace but we complain continuously. It only takes four, five countries to start building a new European heart. Europe is a strong continent; maybe the financial crisis is sounding the alarm.”

During the interview I pointed out to the ambassador that the head of the French state was never invited to Malta. He recalled a meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy lasting more than an hour at the Elysée last year when the President showed a lot of interest in Malta.

“Next year I think he will be invited for the Five Plus Five summit to be held here,” added Mr Rondeau.

La Valette’s sword

Many Maltese often express their wish to see La Valette’s sword and dagger, now in the Louvre, which Bonaparte legally took in his possession as a result of his convention with the Order in 1798.

Will these national icons ever be loaned to Malta on some special occasion, like for example when Valletta is nominated European City of Culture for 2018?

“I am not a prophet,” answers Mr Rondeau diplomatically, “but it is possible. It is a good occasion.”

Għar Lapsi

Winding up the interview, Mr Rondeau reminisced on his many moments of collaboration with Malta’s institutions ranging from Din l-Art Ħelwa, St John’s Foundation and several local councils including that of Birkirkara when he helped bring to Malta the world’s only public circus arts school from France.

Being a keen amateur boxer himself he refers to his cooperation with Malta’s Boxing Federation in bringing young French boxers for training sessions in Malta. He will surely miss Għar Lapsi, its rocky surroundings and the blue warm waters, where he used to take a dip daily all year round and spend time with the fishermen in their shed hewn in the cliffs.

In a gesture of friendship, together with his wife Noelle, he promises to carry a Maltese heart with them to France. “I leave you with three French words: au revoir, merci et je vous aime!”